Even more than a year and a half after its formation, the ruling Nepal Communist Party has not held a meeting of its Central Committee, a crucial and most powerful body of the party.

During the Standing Committee meeting, which was also held for the first time in one year, members while censuring the leadership over various issues had also demanded regular meetings of party committees. The Standing Committee meeting, which concluded on December 22, had then decided to call the Central Committee meeting for January 8.

But Sunday’s secretariat meeting decided to postpone the meeting to January 29.

As per the party statute, the Central Committee must meet every six months.

According to leaders, both Co-chairs KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal are concerned over facing tough questions. The scheduled Central Committee meeting was postponed to avoid criticism, they say.

Despite Dahal apologising for failures on various fronts, including the party and the government, in the political document presented on behalf of him and Oli at the secretariat meeting, members refused to spare the leadership. They were critical of the leadership’s approach to run the party.
A leader said the leadership is not yet ready to absorb criticism at the Central Committee which is 445-member strong.

The leadership, however, postponed the meeting on the pretext of the National Assembly election which is scheduled for January 23.

“The leadership seems to have lost interest in holding meetings, which are very crucial for the proper functioning of the party,” said Ram Karki, a central member. “Nonetheless, meetings in our party have turned into the platform for a handful of leaders to deliver their speeches and impose their decisions.”

After the weeklong Standing Committee meeting last month, leaders were hopeful that the party would now catch the momentum with regular meetings of the party committees.

However, the party has been hamstrung by indecision on the Speaker’s candidate and infighting over parliamentary ratification of the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation Nepal Compact.

Central members said they doubt the leadership will hold the Central Committee meeting on the rescheduled date of January 29.

“The only reason for the meeting deferral is fear of criticism,” said Yubaraj Chaulagain, also a central member. “But the leadership should not shy away from criticism. The leadership must face the leaders and listen to their grievances. It only helps in making the party organisation better.”