Dahal breaks silence on presidential poll

KATHMANDU, JAN 17 -
Proposes to call election for head of state as per fresh CA mandate

Presenting a political document at the party’s Central Committee (CC) meet at the party headquarters Parisdanda, the Maoist chairman broke the party’s silence on the presidential election. An endorsement of Dahal’s proposal by the CC meet will bring the UCPN (M) and the CPN-UML together on the issue.

However, the largest party NC is against the presidential election saying that the term of the President should be continued till the new constitution is promulgated. In the crucial CC meet called to review the party’s past mistakes and election debacle as well as to redraw its organisational structure, Dahal for the first time admitted that the party committed a mistake by forming a technocratic government under Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi to hold the CA election.

Dahal also regretted for failing to form a UCPN (Maoist)-led government for the election.

“It was our mistake to trust the bureaucrats for holding the election. But they did not perform the job honestly,” Maoist leader Hemanta Prakash Oli quoted Dahal as saying while presenting his political document.

The Maoist chief said that the party will not join the majority government but could think about joining the consensus government if that helps to promulgate a new constitution within a year. The party will struggle within and outside the parliament to ensure a federal democratic constitution incorporating the party’s agendas, Dahal told the CC meet.

Dahal has opposed the NC and UML demands for a local election, saying that such an election should be held only after promulgating the new constitution. Dahal said that the party should spend its time and energy for drafting the new constitution within a year and go for a fresh election. Stating that the party lost the November 19 election due to internal reasons, Dahal proposed new strategies and actions to revitalise the party.

The Moaist chairman has proposed a General Convention within May this year to revamp the party’s structure and organisation. Party’s seventh general convention held in February last year shaped the its ideological course, and the leader said, the upcoming convention will rebuild the party structure.

Dahal has proposed forming the party’s organisational structure through election. Dahal has proposed to form 99-member CC to make it more effective and functional.

Maoist Spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota said the main thrust of the proposal is rebuilding the party through reformation.

Dahal to leave Lazimpat house

KATHMANDU: Facing widespread criticism, UCPN (M) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is preparing to leave his Lazimpat residence and hand over all the property to the party.

A party source said they are searching a new residence somewhere in the Valley. Dahal has been criticised within the party for leading a luxurious lifestyle against the communist ideals. The Maoist chairman shifted from Naya Bazaar to Lazimpat bungalow two years ago. (PR)

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