Kathmandu, April 23 -- When Nepal's communist parties on Tuesday marked the 76th anniversary of the establishment of the communist movement in the country, it could be a moment of self-reflection, course correction and unity. But that was not to be.

Going by the public statements made by top communist party leaders, their rivalry is only growing. And there's no room for compromise and conciliation.

The centre of the attack was Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, chairman of the CPN-UML. But Oli is always on the offensive. He spared no effort in attacking rival communist leaders, chiefly the former prime minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Puhspa Kamal Dahal, and Madhav Kumar Nepal, another ex-PM and chairman of the CPN (Unified Socialist)....