“The party wants to settle a few issues involving the peace process now, which will convince the Nepali Congress (NC) to accept a Maoist-led government,” said a leader close to Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. [break]
But the party hard-line faction led by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya is likely to object to the discussions on the integration process, and demand a standing committee or even a politburo meeting, if necessary, to take up the issues.
“There is no formal committee of the top office bearers. So the issue should be discussed at formal committees,” said a leader close to Baidya
The party hard-line faction has accused Dahal and Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai of deciding the party´s moves by analyzing the current political scenario in their own way.
On Tuesday, during a meeting of the party top office bearers, Chairman Dahal had proposed that the party immediately take some decisions on the issues of integration so that all other political parties including the NC would lend their support to a Maoist-led government. But party Secretary CP Gajurel had demanded a meeting of the standing committee to take a decision on the integration process. According to sources, party general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa had also objected to the chairman´s proposal.
“The integration and rehabilitation of the PLA is a serious issue. We cannot take any hasty decision on the issue just for the sake of leading the government. We cannot surrender,” said a leader close to Baidya.
There are sharp differences between the Maoists and other political parties on the mandate of the proposed mixed force to be created after integrating the combatants, as well as the number, rank harmonization and the leadership of the proposed directorate under the Nepal Army (NA).
While the NA wants to use the proposed unarmed mixed force for the purpose of relief-and-rescue operation, the Maoists have construed that acceptance of the proposal would be a “surrender.”
On the issue of the peace process, Dahal has the backing of Bhattarai and together they command a majority in most of the top level committees. “But the issues raised by Baidya would certainly put the party leadership in a morally difficult position.
He is likely to put up stiff resistance if the party becomes too flexible on the integration process just for the sake of leading the government,” said a senior leader of the party.
Related story
Let’s live in peace and embrace diversity
