Dahal meets Baidya faction over lunch

KATHMANDU, March 29: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday held a meeting over lunch with leaders from the faction led by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya, at his residence at Nayabazaar.



Party leaders including Baidya, Secretary CP Gajurel, Netra Bikram Chand from the Baidya faction and Barshaman Pun and Shakti Basnet from the Dahal faction were present during the meeting. [break]



"Our unity is in conflict and new political games are being played. The issue of sovereignty has come to the fore. We discussed these issues," Chand told Republica.



Another vice-chairman, Dr Babruam Bhattarai, was not invited to the meeting. The distance between Dahal and Bhattarai has grown lately.



According to sources, Dahal met Bhattarai at the latter´s residence at Nayabazaar on February 14 after a long gap. They have not contacted each other since.



The party is holding its Standing Committee meeting Tuesday.



Party leaders close to Bhattarai claimed that Dahal invited the Baidya faction leaders to his residence to join hands and take action against Bhattarai. "But the chairman´s plan did not work out as some influential leaders from the Baidya faction objected to such a move," said a leader close to Bhattarai.



The Bhattarai faction has accused the party establishment of circulating cell phone text messages reading "Bhattarai is splitting the party."



But the Dahal faction refuted allegations that the party is planning action against Bhattarai.



"The meeting rather focused on how to settle problems that cropped up recently. The chairman asked for suggestions," he said



Kul Prasad KC said the meeting with Dahal on Monday focused on the current political situation marked by ´counter revolutionary trend´ and ´rumor´ about an imminent party split.



He said leaders from Baidya´s faction demanded that the party bring out programs as per the line passed by the central committee (CC).



The CC has passed the line of ´people´s revolt´, concluding that the country would not see completion of the peace process and constitution drafting due to "conspiracy".



Party leaders from the hard-line faction have accused Dahal of not working to bring a program for revolt and implement the official line.

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