Maoists to deal with problems in package

Leaders agree to take the issues to central committee meeting today

TIKA R PRADHAN

KATHMANDU: Top leaders of the Unified CPN-Maoist today agreed to resolve all the issues, including party's plan of action and work division, in a package.

Leaders, who are divided between the establishment and a new-found alliance, claimed that they agreed to resolve all the differences in a package through the central committee.

The Maoist party has been in the public eye in recent times, with speculations rife that the party could witness some dramatic events as two strong forces — one led by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and another by his deputies Mohan Baidhya and Baburam Bhattarai — sitting tight on their agendas.

However, the agreement reached during a meeting of the party office bearers today at Dahal's residence in Naya Bazaar has dispelled fears among the party rank and file. A leader present in the meeting said the leaders agreed to finalise the work division in the party — a top demand by Baidhya-Bhattarai alliance — through the central committee. "Dahal was adamant on his stance on peace and the constitution and said he would never compromise with anyone on these two issues," said the leaders. A leader close to Vice-chairman Baidhya said Dahal has agreed on work division and he has given up his earlier assertion of taking all the issues to the lower committees. "He has also agreed to lead the party by correcting the past mistakes."

The central committee meeting to be held tomorrow will deal with all the prickly issues, including the change in the Maoist team in the government, said a pro-Dahal leader.

Referring to the meeting held on Thursday, standing committee member Dev Gurung said the chairman was lingering on the issue of handing over the leadership of the parliamentary party. "At first he said he would hand over the leadership in a few days. Later he sought a month and now he is saying he will give up the PP leadership only after August 31," said Gurung.

"When we wanted his commitment in writing, he refused." Referring to voting as a way out, Gurung said the chairman also refused to sort out the issues through 'certain process'. Chairman Dahal had held separate discussions with all the top leaders, who have been campaigning against his sole authority in the party, today. He discussed the issues with Ram Bahadur Thapa as well.

Amid this, the issue of sending a new team to the government has been shelved for now, at least till the CC meeting reaches a decision on work division.

(Published in The Himalayan Times on July 23, 2011)