The leaders, who have apparently been undergoing strained relations, landed at the airport and jointly addressed the local journalists. [break]
With the backing of Bhattarai faction, the Maoist central committee (CC) meeting on Friday endorsed the line of peace and constitution through a majority vote.
Maoist leader Devendra Poudel said that it should not come as surprise even if the two party leaders travel together.
“They traveled together by choice, and it is not surprising,” said Maoist leader Devendra Poudel, who is close to Bhattarai.
Dahal attended a function at Pithuwa while Bhattarai went to Rampur campus to address a gathering of university teachers. The two leaders traveled back to Kathmandu in the same flight in the afternoon. The relationship between the two leaders soured over the post of prime minister.
They had strained relations especially after Dahal accused Bhattarai of being India´s choice for the post of prime minister.
Then, Dahal joined hands with Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and endorsed the line of revolt in the party central committee meeting held immediately after the Palungtar plenum. However Dahal ditched the line of revolt from the last CC meeting and swung back to the line of peace and constitution floated by Bhattarai.
“Cooperation between the two leaders is necessary as both have the same political line now,” said a party leader. But he added that it would take time for reconciliation even if things moved ahead smoothly. “It will depend on how Dahal charts out his strategy in the days ahead,” he said.
At the function in Pithuwa, Dahal argued that completion of constitution drafting and peace process by May 28 is not possible.
He said it would be a good achievement if the parties could agree on the modality for integration and preparation on the preliminary integrated draft of the constitution in the next one month.
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