Nepal, Nov. 12 -- Baburam Bhattarai, former prime minister and one of the 'architects' of the decade-long Maoists insurgency in Nepal, is currently in the midst of attempting to provide, what he calls, an 'alternative force' in the country. Having abandoned Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the CPN (Maoist Centre) as soon as the new constitution was promulgated in 2015, Bhattarai went on to form Naya Shakti, which has now merged with the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum to form the Samajbadi Party. Tika R Pradhan spoke to Bhattarai about contemporary politics and Nepal's relations with its neighbours.

This interview has been condensed for clarity.

You formed Naya Shakti by deserting Maoist party, and now you've joined hands with yet another older force. W...