KATHMANDU, Feb 6 - In a surprising turn of events CPN-Maoist Wednesday announced that it would revive the United Revolutionary People’s Council (URPC)—a wartime structure it had dissolved a few months back-- to address the problems face by the general public.

The URPC, the self-claimed Maoists’ parallel governing mechanism, was in function alongside the state governance during over a decade-long armed conflict.

According to Maoists, the URPC will resolve the problems faced by the people and supporting the infrastructure development as the local bodies could not be restructured as per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Interim Constitution.

The URPC central committee meeting held Monday and Tuesday took the decision.

However, the former rebels have claimed that the URPC will not be a “parallel government”.

The Maoists have also decided to launch an integrated election campaign, mobilising the people and consolidating the party’s base as parts of its election programmes starting February 14.

Similarly, the Maoists will be running a “model programme” for “model integrated development programme” in every village and municipal center of its 11 autonomous republican state and two sub-states.

Following a series of central committee meetings from July 31-August 15 last year, the Maoists had decided to divide Nepal into 11 main autonomous states: Seti-Mahakali, Thauruwan, Bheri-Karnali, Magaraat, Tamuwaan, Tambashaling, Newa, Madhesh, Kirat, Limbhuwaan and Kochila. While the Madhesh was further divided into Mithila, Bhojpura and Awadh sub-state committees.

The party had also decided to form five new central bureaus to replace the six wartime commands while Maoist Chairman Prachanda was handed over the charge of the Maoist army bureau along with its youth front, Young Communist League (YCL), afterwards. 

The latest central committee meeting of the party also restructured the URPC central committee.

Maoists leaders Communication Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Local Development Minister Dev Gurung have been appointed joint-coordinators in the 37-member council led by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, the party release stated today.

On February 4, the SPA steering committee had decided not to set up a new mechanism to run the local bodies before the CA elections so as to create an environment to step up dialogue process with agitating parties and groups in Terai.