The party is holding the meeting of the office bearers and then of the standing committee in a bid to minimize the differences among the three factions led by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai respectively. Party insiders say the meeting is historic as the party stands at a very critical phase of its history and the peace process.[break]
While Dahal and Bhattarai share the line of peace and constitution, Baidya and Bhattarai have forged a tactical alliance to cut Dahal down to size.
The Baidya faction has so far opposed Dahal´s proposal to hold a general convention to settle the internal contradiction over the party line and formulate a mechanism to hold debates on the ideological issues for now.
“All the issues are not settled by majority votes,” says leader Kul Prasad KC who is close to Baidya.
The major contentious issue is the integration and rehabilitation of the combatants with Baidya opposing the completion of the integration process prior to promulgating the constitution of the “People´s Federal Democratic Republic” and also turning the combatants into a non-combat force.
Baidya has also defied the party´s earlier decision to discontinue security provided to senior party leaders by the combatants.
The hard-line faction has stated that holding the general conventions after a year makes little sense as the party is all set to make compromises on the fundamental principles through majority votes in the CC.
The party establishment has stated that the meeting would set a date to formulate a mechanism to disseminate the views of the hardliners.
“The party is yet to reach an agreement on how to move ahead. But there is no option other than fixing a date for general convention and regulating the debates on internal differences,” says Maoist leader Haribol Gajurel who is close to Dahal.
Gajurel said the hardliners don´t have any choice other than writing a note of dissent and obeying the party decision or splitting the party.
With the backing of the Bhattarai faction, Dahal enjoys a comfortable majority in the CC, but Bhattarai is not likely to lend blanket support to the latter.
Linked with the integration process is process of government formation in which Dahal and Bhattarai don´t see eye to eye.
“The chairman has told Bhattarai that he would support the latter as the prime minister, while he has also given words to Baidya that he supports the current government,” said a leader close to Bhattarai.
Baidya is of the view that the current government is “nationalistic in character which was formed against the wishes of India”, and doesn´t want to dissolve it now.
“In fact, both factions know that the chairman is setting one against the other on this issue. But he should realize that both issues are inter-linked,” said the leader.
If Dahal doesn´t give his support to Bhattarai on the issue of government formation, the latter is unlikely to back Dahal on the issue. Bhattarai had recently stated that the integration model to make the PLA a “non-combat” force is the DDR model (Demobilization, Disarmament and rehabilitation) and unacceptable to the party.
According to party insiders, Dahal may postpone the CC if the differences are not minimized at the standing committee meeting.
The party is also holding discussions on the issue of sharing responsibilities among the party leaders and the latest secret meetings held by each faction and the ensuing “anarchy” in the party.
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