The CPN-UML is turning the clock back, with a Standing Committee meeting held on Tuesday deciding to revive the Central Committee that existed until May 16, 2018, prior to its merger with the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre).

The decision comes as part of UML chair KP Sharma Oli’s bid to placate the Madhav Nepal-Jhala Nath Khanal faction of his party, which has sided with the opposition alliance of the Nepali Congress and the Maoist Centre.

The UML Central Committee was dissolved after the party merged with the Maoist Centre on May 18, 2018 to form the Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

“Today’s Standing Committee meeting decided to propose the meeting of the 10th national convention organising committee to revive the party’s central committee of May 16, 2018,” said Prithvi Subba Gurung, a Standing Committee member, who until recently was the chief minister of Gandaki Province.

Party spokesperson Pradeep Gyawali said the meeting of the Central Committee in the form of three years ago will be held on Friday.

As many as 23 members from the Nepal-Khanal faction have signed the writ petition filed by the opposition alliance at the Supreme Court against Oli’s House dissolution demanding that the House be restored and that Deuba be appointed prime minister.

As many as 26 members of the Nepal faction on May 21 had supported Deuba’s bid for prime minister as per Article 76 (5) of the constitution. But Oli too staked his claim for the prime ministerial post.

After President Bidya Devi Bhandari disqualified both claims by Deuba, who had provided the signatures of 149 lawmakers, and Oli, the Cabinet had recommended House dissolution.

A tussle between Oli and Nepal has been going on for months.

When the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) existed, the Nepal-Khanal faction had sided with Pushpa Kamal Dahal, then chair of the party.

But two weeks after overturning Oli’s December 20 House dissolution on February 23, the Supreme Court on March 7 invalidated the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and revived the UML and the Maoist Centre.

The Nepal faction has not quit the UML party, but it has not made peace with Oli.

The Nepal-Khanal faction holds significance for Oli if the Supreme Court overturns Oli’s May 21 House dissolution. As the opposition alliance has been building pressure on Oli and arguments against his House dissolution are seemingly becoming stronger, the UML chair is attempting to pacify the Nepal group.

“Some crucial decisions are expected on Wednesday when our party holds a meeting of the 10th national convention organising committee,” said Subas Nembang, a Standing Committee member.

Oli had formed the 10th national convention organising committee by including some former Maoist Centre leaders. But the Supreme Court on June 10 had ordered not to validate any of the decisions taken by the committee which had been making the party’s decisions usually made by the Central Committee.