"Forming a majority-based government by sidelining other political parties will not bring any solution to the protracted political deadlock. So we only decided that as the largest political party we should obviously lead the government," said Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma.[break]
Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Dinanath Sharma, leaders close to Dr Baburam Bhattarai, had argued that the party should not participate in any majority-based government as that would complicate the country´s political process further, and should form a national consensus government led by any party if other parties so wish.
"We should be ready to lead a consensus government under Dr Baburam Bhattarai if that leads to national consensus," a standing committee member quoted Rayamajhi as saying. But Dev Gurung floated Dahal as the party´s prime ministerial candidate. Later, the party decided not to name any prime ministerial candidate from the party for the time being.
Bhattarai faction also vociferously demanded that Bhattarai be made parliamentary party leader, the position being held by Dahal himself. Dahal had removed Bhattarai from the position of deputy parliamentary leader and appointed Narayankaji Shrestha in that position.
During the meeting, Rayamajhi made a satire at Shrestha, who is an aide to chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. "Latecomers cannot grab comfortable beds," Rayamajhi said indicating at Shrestha. Shrestha´s Ekata Kendra (Masal) had merged with then CPN (Maoist) after the peace process to become UCPN (Maoist).
There are sharp differences between Dahal and Bhattarai over a new government.
According to sources, Dahal is of the view that as the chances of forming a Maoist-led government is getting slimmer by the day, the party should support UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, who is a "like-minded" leader, for new prime minister.
But Bhattarai faction has argued that the party should allow Bhattarai to lead the national consensus government if other parties so want. Bhattarai has also opposed Dahal´s bid to support Khanal for prime minister. Dahal has so far turned down Bhattarai faction´s demand saying that it is just a ploy of the "domestic and international reactionaries" to intensify intra-party tensions and split the party.
Dahal and Bhattarai factions have also interpreted Sunday´s decision in different ways.
While Dahal faction stated that the decision meant the party chairman should lead the government, Bhattarai faction argued that party doesn´t mean the chairman so any leader from the party, who garners support from other parties, can become the prime minister.
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has set Friday as the deadline for the formation of a consensus-based government as per Article 38 (1) of the constitution, and if the parties fail to reach consensus within the deadline, the government formation process will switch to Article 38 (2) of the constitution for a majority-based government.
Reshuffling of party responsibilities shelved
The Maoist party has postponed the task of reshuffling party responsibilities, saying that the task would be done after the CPN (Masal) led by Dila Ram Sharma merges with the party.
The meeting on Sunday was supposed to take a decision on the recommendations of the taskforce formed to reshuffle party responsibilities and induct new members to the party´s top bodies including Standing Committee, politburo and the Central Committee (CC).
The three Maoist factions, led by Dahal, Bhattarai and Mohan Baidya, had presented their own lists of leaders for members of the taskforce. Most of the key positions in the party are being held by leaders of the Dahal and Baidya factions. "It is difficult to settle the reshuffling of responsibilities. It means sharing key positions with Bhattarai faction that has been pushed into minority. So the issue has been shelved for now," said a leader close to Baidya.
Cadre orientation programs from today
The Maoist party has decided to continue the scheduled cadre orientation programs. The party will begin the program from Bhrikuti Mandap of Kathmandu where the top three leaders -- Dahal, Baidya and Bhattarai -- are expected to make speeches in the closed-door meeting.
UML take on Maoist decision
UML leaders described the Maoist latest decision claming government leadership as an obvious one. "Being the largest party in the CA, it is not unusual for them to make efforts to claim leadership. It is too early to expect their official decision in favor of other party´s leadership as we have enough time to make inter-party deals to settle the leadership issue," said a UML leader close to Chairman Jhalanath Khanal. "However, UML is likely to look for other alternatives, including voting for NC candidate, if the Maoists continue to claim their own leadership until the last."
Though the third-largest party UML is divided over whether the party should head a Maoist-backed government, the party is against a Maoist-headed government. A faction led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is against Maoist-backed government, while the other fation in the party is for forming the new government under the leadership of party chairman.
Related story
Koshi Province: Ruling coalition prepares to secure majority vo...
-1778925320.webp)
