Fresh factional fued fermenting

KATHMANDU, DEC 24 -
UCPN (Maoist) senior leader Baburam Bhattarai’s new proposal on power sharing, which advocates against ‘centralised power’, could instigate a fresh factional tussle in the party.

Bhattarai has proposed that party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal should be ready to shed some of the key positions he has been holding for a long time. Bhattarai argues that the party had to face a ‘humiliating defeat’ in the November election, mainly because all the powers are centralised on the party chairman.

Making a case for ‘decentralised’ leadership, Bhattarai has demanded leadership of the party’s parliamentary front and the constitution drafting process, which effectively means the position of parliamentary party leader. Dahal, the proposal goes, should focus on ‘party building tasks’.

Leaders close to Bhattarai say, he will not make any compromise with Dahal on his proposal on intra-party power sharing this time.

“Baburamji has proposed new allocation of responsibilities inside the party in the new context. Discussions are underway inside the party regarding the power sharing,” said Devendra Poudel,who was the political advisor in the Bhattarai-led government.

Dahal, however, is not likely to entertain Bhattarai’s proposal, who insists that this is not the right time to raise the issue.

He has, instead, promised to call the party’s national convention to settle the organisational disputes in the party.

Leaders close to Dahal said, the distrust between two factions could increase with Bhattarai taking party’s internal issues to public, including through social networking sites like Facebook.

“Bhattarai should put forth his demands in the party’s formal platforms. Making statements to the media, or through Facebook would not help,” said a leader close to Dahal.

Bhattarai in his Facebook on Friday had posted that the tenure of the party chairman should be limited for two terms. He said the party should frame a new organisational structure to revitalise the party after the loss in the election.  

In response to Bhattarai’s call for reshuffling the party structure, Dahal has proposed that top leaders can stay out of the CA process and work for party building, which Bhattarai disagrees. “Bhattarai has suggested Dahal that instead of staying out of the constitution drafting process, senior leaders should give up top party positions for the younger ones,” a leader close to Bhattarai said.

The Bhattarai faction is also putting pressure on Dahal to take a ‘moral responsibility’ for the party’s defeat.

 “Baburamji is publicly bargaining to become the parliamentary party leader which is not possible now. This is a time to focus on constitution drafting process,” said leader Hemanta Prakash Oli.

Oli reads that Bhattarai is making attempts at taking over the party’s leadership.

Bhattarai is preparing to table a separate document in the party’s Central Committee (CC) meet which is likely to take place in two weeks. But, Dahal loyalists say it is not easy for Bhattarai to endorse his proposal from CC, as he has a weak command over the party’s organisation.

 Another senior leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha in the party has also raised serious questions about Dahal’s leadership. A leader close to him said the party faced a humiliating loss due to the flawed policy adopted by the party leadership. Shrestha and Bhattarai, however, do not share similar view on the party chairman.

As the differences with Bhattarai grow, Dahal could reach out to his political guru Mohan Baidya, who leads the breakaway faction CPN-Maoist, for cooperation.

It is, however, not clear what kind of cooperation Dahal and Baidya could work out.

Oli said that talks are underway with CPN-Maoist leaders about the areas of alliance. Meanwhile, the CPN-Maoist has hinted towards possibility of working alliance with the UCPN (Maoist) if the latter agreed to stay out of the CA. The Baidya-led party has, however, ruled out the possibility of unification between the two parties. 

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