Baidhya camp stands tough in its stance

Establishment side tries to woo

TIKA R PRADHAN

maoist cc meet

KATHMANDU: Leaders of the hardline faction of the Unified CPN-Maoist have toughened their stance, saying they would not buy the party chairman’s ‘old techniques’ of trying to appease them any more. However, the establishment faction kept making efforts to convince them today as well.

As many as 129 central committee members aired their views at the party’s ongoing central committee meeting today. Though most of the leaders were aggressive during the meeting earlier today, the leaders speaking later in the day stressed on party unity and underscored the need to correct wrongdoings in the party.

According to politburo member Hari Bhakta Kandel, the ball is now in Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s court. “He has two options ahead. Either we should go for a conference to further discuss the two distinct political lines or Dahal moves forward with the spirit of the Palungtar plenum,” he said. “Hardliners are ready to wait for his next document if he is ready to address the change.”

On the other hand, politburo member Haribol Gajurel, a close aide to Dahal, said there was no possibility of Dahal coming up with another document. “We can now form consensus on work plan and programmes with a common bottom line, as Baidhya has already said they were for moving forward with peace and the constitution,” he said.

Dahal and Baidhya are scheduled to speak on the issues raised by CC members on Sunday.

Party Vice-chairman and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai had reached Gongabu-based residence of senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya today to urge him to hold back all the differences and join hands for peace and the constitution.

Bhattarai had also requested Baidhya to take the differing views to the general convention.

(Published in The Himalayan Times on 7 Jan 2012)