No headway in Maoist standing committee

Tika R Pradhan

Kathmandu, July 8

The standing committee meeting of the Unified CPN Maoist has failed to make any headway on the major issues that affects the national politics.

During today's meeting chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had presented the analysis of the political situation including the assessment of the government and its policy and programmes. Dahal had also briefed the meeting about the homework of the top leaders. "Since the homework was not completed we decided to sit again after completing the tasks and forging consensus on several agendas including the work division," said Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

Sources claimed that standing committee member Barshaman Pun 'Ananta' stood on the side of chairman Dahal while all the other members had spoke against him.

According to standing committee member Giriraj Mani Pokhrel the issue of work division has been put off for now because the leaders were yet to forge consensus. Discussions were on to give vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya the responsibility of the organisation while another vice-chairman to look after the government and the parliament. The party was also discussing about the future of the joint front led by vice-chairman Bhattarai earlier. However, chairman Dahal was not in a mood to give the responsibilities to the vice-chairman at the cost of weakening his leadership in the party. The vice-chairmen duo have been demanding the practice of collective leadership claiming chairman Dahal has been taking the decision of the party unilaterally.

Leaders said the party was not satisfied with the working style of the government claiming that the government failed to follow the norms of a coalition government. The party is also dissatisfied with the decisions taken by the government.

Dahal had accused that the other parties including the Nepali Congress were reluctant to implement five-point deal besides holding discussion on army integration and the government. "Therefore things are getting more and more complicated and therefore we must work in a way to face the impending challenge and take the decision of work division accordingly," a standing committee member quoted Dahal as saying at the meeting.

Chairman Dahal had also said the days ahead were not easy for the party as the parties were gradually backtracking from the earlier agreements and thus the cases against the Maoist leaders have been revived. Dahal was for creating pressure on the parties through mass movement.

Another standing committee meeting has been scheduled for Sunday where chairman Dahal will present his political document with point-wise solution for the impending issues including peace, constitution, government and the internal struggle among others.

Sources also claimed that the party was also under discussion to reinforce the government by sending another team in the leadership of one of the office bearers.