Kathmandu: Internal disputes within the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) have become increasingly public, as senior leader and former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal strongly criticized party Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal, accusing him of behaving like a "dictator".

Tensions escalated after Khanal questioned the justification for splitting from the CPN-UML and forming a new party. In a recent television interview, Khanal had expressed doubts over the long-term relevance of the party’s formation.

Reacting sharply to Khanal’s remarks, Chairman Madhav Nepal, speaking to journalists at Biratnagar Airport, publicly said that Khanal could “leave the party” if he was dissatisfied — a comment that has now drawn strong backlash.

In a rebuttal interview with News Agency Nepal, Khanal denounced the chairman's response as "indecent, irresponsible, and dictatorial." He said, “This is not the kind of language a party leader should use toward a fellow leader. If there was disagreement, he could have convened a meeting or spoken to me directly, not issued public threats.”

Khanal warned that such behavior was undermining internal party democracy and silencing room for debate. He questioned whether Chairman Nepal was trying to impose one-man rule within the party, stating, “What kind of dictator are you trying to become if you dismiss criticism by telling people to leave the party?”

The public dispute signals deepening ideological and leadership rifts within the Unified Socialist, raising concerns about the party's internal unity and future direction.