Sources close to Bhattarai say Dahal at a recent meeting had asked NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel and UML leaders Jhalanath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal to create an environment for forming a national consensus government.[break]
"I cannot directly demand his resignation. So you must create an environment to force him to step down," sources at Baluwatar quoted Dahal as telling UML leaders in a recent meeting.
On Monday, at a three-party meeting at Paudel´s residence at Boharatar, Dahal had proposed that a national consensus government should be formed and peace process should be concluded in a package.
"We are open to the idea of forming a national consensus government. All the issues should be settled in a package," a participant of the meeting quoted Dahal. Bhattarai was also present at the meeting.
Bhattarai faction says Dahal´s "duplicity" regarding the cabinet decision to legalize the conflict-era land transactions and the recent fuel price hike shows that he is seriously working to isolate Bhattarai inside and outside the party and topple the government.
"It was the chairman who forced the prime minister to legalize the war-time land transactions. Now he is not backing the government, and has put the blame on the prime minister, in an apparent bid to put the government in difficulty," said a leader close to Bhattarai.
The Bhattarai faction has also blamed Dahal for fomenting street protests against the government´s fuel price hike decision. The Maoist party´s own student wing is on the streets against the decision. "The prime minister had consulted the chairman before increasing fuel prices. And after the prices were hiked, Dahal backed the student wing that launched street protest. How can a party´s student union take to the streets without parent party´s nod?" said a leader from the Bhattarai faction.
The faction has also accused Dahal of holding several rounds of meeting with UML leaders including Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, KP Oli and Madhav Kumar Nepal. Sources say Dahal had asked the UML leaders to play roles to topple the government. Few days back, Dahal, accompanied by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya, had held talks with Khanal at the latter´s residence at Dallu.
It may be recalled that Dahal had promised to Baiyda to recall Bhattarai from the government, though Dahal latter denied having made any such promise.
The Bhattarai faction has also accused Dahal of taking tough stance on the integration process. "He has taken the stance that the voluntary retirement and integration process should go alongside. His strategy is to put the government in crisis," said the leader.
Bhattarai himself had told party cadres on Tuesday in Palpa that he is no longer getting support from the party leadership to run the government.
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