Even as the ruling parties plan to begin the voting process in the Constituent Assembly on Friday, a meeting of the protesting parties — those represented in the CA and those outside the CA — today decided to launch a unified movement of all the agitating parties.

Claiming that separate movements would have no effect on the ruling coalition, agitating parties and alliances launching separate movements for identity-based federalism and institutionalizing the achievements of the past movements have agreed to launch a unified movement.

Speaking at the meeting, Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal reiterated the need of youth volunteer squad to counter the state’s suppression whenever necessary, though the movement would be peaceful.

CPN-M Chairman Mohan Baidhya said unified movement was essential to safeguard the past achievements.

A task force was formed to ensure the success of the movement. It includes Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Jitendra Dev, Hridayesh Tripathi, Lal Babu Raut, Laxman Lal Karna, Rajendra Shrestha, Prem Bahadur Singh, Rukmini Chaudhary, Pasang Sherpa, Khagendra Makhim, Ganga Prasad Mahara, Kaushal Kumar Singh, Ratna Rana, Dev Gurung, Pampha Bhusal, KB Gurung, Mani Thapa, Matrika Yadav, JP Gupta and Gopal Thakur.

The unified movement includes 30-party front led by UCPN-M (19 parties represented in CA and 11 outside the CA), CPN-Maoist-led alliance. including parties led by Mani Thapa, Matrika Yadav, JP Gupta and Ram Bahadur Shrish Magar, besides Padma Ratna Tuladhar-led Indigenous Nationalities National Movement Nepal.

The meeting of the task force scheduled for Friday would take necessary decisions on intensifying the movement and ensuring the success of the nationwide shutdown on January 20.

Earlier addressing a meeting of party’s senior leaders held at Paris Danda, UCPN-M Chairman Dahal said NC and UML wanted to remove UCPN-M from the political scenario in the name of consensus and therefore the opposition parties had to counter their move from inside and outside the CA.

He said NC and UML were not ready to draft the constitution including the issues they had agreed on during the previous CA. Dahal added that the party would not surrender but would show its strength.