Word to assist NC divides UCPN (M)

KATHMANDU, DEC 27 -
The UCPN (Maoist) has plunged into a dispute about supporting the Nepali Congress in the government formation process. Though Tuesday’s four-point agreement has brought the two parties closer, leaders say the chances of supporting the NC in the government as said by some leaders close to Pushpa Kamal Dahal are slim.

On Wednesday, leader Barsha Man Pun who is close to Dahal publicly said that the party will lend unconditional support to the NC . The remark has created a ripple in the party.

Leaders close to senior leader Baburam Bhattarai have objected to the move saying that Pun spoke on Dahal’s behalf without any discussion in the party. Leaders maintain that as the party will not be a part of the government, it will be unwise to support the NC without a guarantee of the leadership of the High-level Political Committee, finalising the contents of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and agreement on finalising the constitution through voting.

Speaking at a party meeting on Thursday, leaders Amik Sherchan, Gopal Kirati, Nanda Kishor Pun and Lila Mani Pokhrel said the party should not focus on the government formation process as “it will be against the people’s mandate”. They also criticised Bhattarai’s recent remarks in social media saying that all the contentious issues should be discussed in party platforms.

For the selection of proportional representation (PR) lawmakers, leaders urged the party leadership to prepare a standard. A task force has set some standards but leaders are not satisfied and have suggested the leadership select PR candidates representing all the castes and ethnicities.


NC endorses 4-point agreement

KATHMANDU: A meeting of the Nepali Congress office bearers on Thursday endorsed the four-point deal signed by the eight political parties on Tuesday.

The meeting concluded that the deal had paved the way for consensus politics and would ease the future political process, said party Joint Secretary General Purna Bahadur Khadka.

The meeting decided to take other forces such as the CPN-UML, the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhesis into confidence.

NC Parliamentary Board is meeting on Saturday to select names of proportional representation lawmakers for submission by Monday. Conflict victims, district presidents and Central Working Commit-tee members and martyr’s kin are in priority. (PR)

Labels: News