instead. Mainali was deposed as general secretary, and Jhala Nath Khanal took over the helm. In 1986 the process of reform of CPN (ML) accelerated further, with moderate Madan Bhandari elected general secretary. Barre Sangharsh Samuha and Nepal Workers and Peasants Organisation (D.P. Singh) also merged into the party by 1986. After the declaration of multi-party democracy in the country, the CPN (ML) which had been functioning underground started working as an open political party. It tried to merge with other left factions in the country with certain success. In 1990 the party formed the United Left Front with other communist factions in the country. On 6 January 1991, before the 1991 general elections, CPN (ML) merged with the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist) led by Man Mohan Adhikari to form Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). Ideology The ideology of the party was "New Democratic Revolution" whose success would eventually lead the country towards socialism and communism. The party accepted Mao as the sole leader of the revolutionary movement. The "New Democratic Revolution" was based on the idea of agrarian revolution by uprooting the power of big landlords through armed struggle. Leadership General Secretaries of the CPN (Marxist–Leninist) Chandra Prakash Mainali, 1978–82 Jhala Nath Khanal, 1982–86 Madan Kumar Bhandari, 1986–91 See also Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) K.P. Sharma Oli Madhav Kumar Nepal References Defunct communist parties in Nepal Rebel groups in Nepal Political parties established in 1978 1978 establishments in Nepal Political parties disestablished in 1991 1991 disestablishments in Nepal fr:Parti communiste du Népal#Parti communiste du Népal (marxiste-léniniste)