CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the process of forming a new government will move forward smoothly with the hurdles to National Assembly election having been cleared.

Speaking at a press meet organised jointly by the Press Chautari and the Press Centre at Bharatpur Airport in Chitwan on Thursday, the former prime minister said there was no problem in unification between the CPN-UML and the Maoist Centre.

“I have asked party leaders not to pass unnecessarily comments to the media about unification. Uttering remarks beyond the party’s official position will send negative messages,” said Dahal, on arrival in Chitwan on Thursday.

Dahal said he would pay attention to good governance and national prosperity, rather than competing to be the prime minister or the chairman of a unified party.

“The party unification coordination committee has already approved me and KP ji [UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli] as the leaders. We have no debates and differences on any issues,” said Dahal.

Dahal made it clear that there were no differences between the two communist allies on unification. “Discussions are ongoing. Party merger will happen before government formation,” he said.

Responding to the queries of media persons, Dahal said the temporary capitals of the provinces fixed by the incumbent government could be changed if the situation so demands. “There is no need to panic over provincial capitals. The provincial government has the right to choose a suitable location for the capital,” he added.

Oli, Dahal plan party unity meeting ‘next week’

With the unification process of the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) not gaining expected momentum, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Maoist Centre chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal are planning a day-long meeting next week.

The two leaders were scheduled to sit for a second round of talks this week when they were expected to give instructions to leaders from both sides who are overseeing the party unity coordination committee. But the meeting was called off after Oli fell sick.

Another meeting, which was planned for Thursday, was cancelled due to Oli’s busy schedule. “But they spoke over the phone and decided to hold a day-long meeting after Dahal returns from Chitwan,” said Bishnu Rimal, UML leader close to Oli.

Amid swirling speculation that the much-hyped party unification was losing steam, Rimal added, “The spirit of party merger is very much felt by both the leaders. They will sit for a long meeting where they are expected to chart out a frame work for the party unity.”

According to him, the meeting will take a decision on management of the top leaders from both camps in a power-sharing equation, like President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Oli and Dahal will then enter into the organisational, political and ideological structures of the planned unified party, giving a border framework to the coordination committee.

“The unity process will move ahead along with the government formation and power-sharing agreement,” said a Maoist leader.