Miscellaneous
Left bloc resumes unification talks
The two top leaders of the CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre have resumed one-on-one discussions to sort out pending issues including power sharing after the conclusion of the National Assembly polls on Wednesday.Tika R Pradhan
The two top leaders of the CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre have resumed one-on-one discussions to sort out pending issues including power sharing after the conclusion of the National Assembly polls on Wednesday.
During the three-hour long meeting, the two top leaders agreed to hold the meeting of Party Unity Co-ordination Committee (PUCC) on Friday to expedite the discussions.
The unification process was delayed as UML leaders were reluctant on accepting Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as the chair of the unified party while Maoist Centre was not ready for the unification without respectable share in the new party.
Though the leaders refused to divulge what transpired during today’s one-on-one meeting held Dahal’s personal secretary Jokh Bahadur Mahara said the two leaders discussed alternative ways to resolve the power sharing issue besides other outstanding issues including the ideological one.
“The two leaders also discussed the recent NA polls, provincial assembly besides party unity,” a press note released by Dahal’s secretariat said. It added the PUCC meeting will be held this Friday.
Since UML leaders were not ready to accept Dahal as the chair of the new party they are seeking other alternatives to adjust Dahal as Maoist Centre has refused to accept co-chair of the new party.
Leaders of UML have also said the party was worried over taking the responsibility of the cases against humanity that occurred during the conflict era if Dahal leads the new party.
On Saturday President Bidhya Bhandari had suggested UML Chair KP Oli to manage the merger bid even by sharing the executive positions between the two top leaders.
Former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal has publicly said he was ready to accept Dahal as the chairman of the new party.
Despite all odds Maoist Centre leaders including Chairman Dahal and senior leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha have not spoken a word against the merger. Dahal has been repeatedly saying that powerful forces were working to spoil the merger-those who had tried to appease him earlier are now focusing on Oli to foil the merger bid.