Former Population and Environment minister and CPN-UML leader, Ambika Sanwa who was missing since the last seven months has joined the Maoists, reports quoting Sanwa’s family members said.

Sanwa informed his family members that he joined the Maoists willingly when he visited his house in Khoklang VDC, in eastern Taplejung district last Saturday, reports said.

Meanwhile, talking to Nepalnews Friday afternoon, spokesperson of the CPN-UML, Pradip Nepal, said his party was trying to establish contact with his family members and verify the news reports.

“Sanwa was extremely disappointed with our merger and split politics,” Nepal said, adding, “He stayed independent after UML party and its splinter group- the ML- was united.”

The parties-UML and ML- that split over the parliamentary ratification of the controversial Mahakali Treaty with India in 1996; merged after four years in 2000.

According to Nepal, a huge mass that left UML in 1996 to join its splinter group- CPN- ML- never returned to the mother party though the parties united afterwards. He didn’t elaborate.

Appointed a minister for Population and Environment ministry, Sanwa was elected from constituency number 2 of Taplejung district representing CPN-UML party in the general election of 1991.