Both factions led by the party Chairman KP Sharma Oli and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal want to ensure senior status for vice-chairperson of their respective camps with the view of getting the chance to handle the party in the context of Chairman Oli’s weak health condition.

The Oli faction has proposed to create the post of senior vice-chairman with an intention to enable newly-elected Vice-chairperson Bam Dev Gautam to work as deputy chairperson. The plan, however, could not materialise as leaders supporting Nepal faction opposed the idea arguing that no post in the party should be created targeting a particular leader.

Chairman Oli has backed Gautam to be allotted senior status among vice-chairpersons citing his seniority and contribution to the party. On the other hand, leaders supporting to Nepal want to see Bhim Rawal, who secured highest votes among the vice-chairpersons in the recent convention, as the senior most deputy on the basis of votes he received. Rawal secured 1,143 votes edging Gautam by just five votes.

“I don’t see any ground not to accept Gautam as senior vice-chairperson in the party. I hope Rawal will not disagree on the matter,” said Rabindra Adhikari.

The row over protocol is not new to the party. After 2009 Butwal Convention, Ashok Rai, who was elected as vice-chairperson with highest votes, was miffed with then party Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal after the latter asked Gautam to bear responsibility of handling party in his absence. Later, Rai distanced himself from Khanal and subsequently quit the party forming the Federal Socialist Party.

Rawal, however, refused to comment on the matter. Instead, he mentioned that he would put his views at the party’s office bearers’ meeting. “I do not want to comment right now. Let’s first see how the party chairman approaches me and I will put my views among the office bearers about it,” Rawal said, suggesting that he would talk to his supporters to this effect.

Considering the possible row over seniority, Friday’s CC meeting held for the first time after the ninth General Convention included the issue of fixing hierarchy of leaders as one of major agendas for the next CC meeting scheduled for August 10. On Friday, leaders registered their attendances in the party’s minute based on votes they gained in the convention.

Party’s newly amended statute has a provision to name senior leader after the party chairperson as the immediate party chief. The statute, however, is silent about such leader’s role and handling the party in the absence of party chief. In the past, senior vice-chairperson used to take charge of the party in such situation.

Meanwhile, the party’s first CC meeting held at the party headquarters in Balkhu has formed two committees to deal with the dossiers endorsed by the convention before publishing them. The party chairman-led panel will incorporate the inputs put forth by the representatives and finalise the document. Vice-chairpersons Bhim Rawal and Astha Laxmi Shakya, Deputy General Secretary Ghanshyam Bhusal, Secretary Pradeep Gyanwali and CC member Shanker Pokharel and Chabi Lal Bishwakarma will assist Oli to carry out the task.

Another committee headed by General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel will finalise the organisational report and statue incorporating suggestions of the party representatives.

Friday’s meeting also finalised major agendas, including the review of party’s generation convention, overview of government and Constituent Assembly’s performance and responsibility division of top leaders, for the next meeting.