Kathmandu, May 15 -- In 2012, Mohan Baidya and CP Gajurel, veteran leaders of Nepal's communist movement, left the then Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). Baidya had called the decision to sign the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and abandon the 'people's war' a mistake. Netra Bikram Chand and Ram Bahadur Thapa both sided with Baidya and also left the party.

Seven years on, as the newly minted Nepal Communist Party looks to mark its first anniversary on Friday, four communist parties and one communist front-led by Baidya and Gajurel-have announced the launch of a peaceful movement against what they call the "corrupt" and "fascist" Nepal Communist Party.

"The communists have emerged victorious, but what ...