National
Parties’ unification moving ‘positively’
The unification bid of the two left parties moved in a ‘positive direction’ after two rounds of talks between Prime Minister and Chairman of the CPN-UML KP Oli and Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the Capital on Thursday.The unification bid of the two left parties moved in a ‘positive direction’ after two rounds of talks between Prime Minister and Chairman of the CPN-UML KP Oli and Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the Capital on Thursday.
According to a Maoist leader, the two top leaders have agreed on composition of the central committee, electoral symbol and resolving ideological issues by the next week after the meeting of party unity coordination committee.
“The process of party unity is almost complete now,” said senior Maoist leader, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, while sharing details about the one-on-one meetings between Oli and Dahal on Thursday morning and afternoon.
The two leaders have agreed that a new central committee will have almost equal representation from both the parties, Sun—the present electoral symbol of UML—will be the electoral symbol of the new party, and report presented by the two separate task forces will be approved in the committee’s next meeting scheduled for early next week, according to Shrestha.
But the two sides could not reach a deal on one of the crucial issues of the unity—management of the top party leadership. Dahal has been demanding the chair of the unified party within the next couple of years or a share of the five-year term of prime minister with Oli.
The top leaders have agreed to call the meeting of party unification coordination committee on Sunday or Monday to approve the report prepared by two separate task forces.
Dahal also held a meeting with senior UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal on Thursday between his meetings with PM Oli.
While Maoist leaders said many contentious issues regarding the unification have been resolved, their counterparts in the UML are not so forthcoming.
“Talks have been positive and are still going on,” said Bishnu Rimal, chief political advisor to PM Oli, declining to divulge details.
Earlier, the two parties had planned to announce the unification on April 22. However, the issues related to larger power-sharing and parties’ ideologies postponed the announcement.