Unified in name only

KATHMANDU, JAN 30 -
Top UML leaders engage in battle of one-upmanship
A tussle for leadership within the CPN- UML has reached boiling point with all four top leaders staking their claim on two executive posts--Parliamentary Party (PP) leader and party chair.

Even as senior leaders intensify backdoor negotiations to settle internal differences, a party row will prove difficult to avoid.

Party Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and senior leader KP Sharma Oli are at the forefront of the wrangling, while senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and Vice-chairman Bam Dev Gautam are waiting for their opportunity to act.

Traditionally, the party chairman leads the parliamentary front. Despite this, Oli has publicly staked his claim as PP leader arguing that he commands the largest number of lawmakers in the Constituent Assembly (CA).

To garner support from Vice-chairman Gautam, who had played a crucial role in electing Khanal as party chief at the Butwal General Convention in 2009, Oli has assured Gautam of supporting him in the new government. Encouraged with Oli's assurance, Gautam visited Khanal's residence some weeks ago and asked him not to 'dare to contest for party chief in the upcoming general convention'.

UML leaders say the current tussle is a result of the 'ambitions of all top leaders' in the wake of November 19 election. "The power tussle emerged due to the growing ambition of leaders. It will be settled through an election if they continue to wrangle for power," said UML leader Rajan Bhattarai.

Following advice by leaders loyal to him, Gautam appears to be changing his mind on lending his full support to Oli. Still, his supporters have been exerting pressure on Gautam not to remain unsupportive of Khanal at the critical juncture.

Party insiders said Gautam has changed his mind concerning the post of party chairman, and will take leadership of the party at any cost once Nepal and Khanal are reconciled.

Moreover, some lawmakers supporting Gautam also warned him that they will not follow him unconditionally if he makes an alliance with Oli. "We have already conveyed our position that he will not enjoy our support. This has caused a little bit of trouble to change the previous track," a leader close to Gautam said.

Gautam and incumbent General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel, who had supported Khanal as party chief, are reticent to take a position. While Pokharel has distanced himself from Khanal, Gautam remains indecisive on whom to support if the party goes for polls. Gautam, who commands around 20 lawmakers, has emerged as a decisive force in the internal power balance. Khanal's supporters are also working hard to keep Gautam-Khanal relations intact. They believe the Khanal camp would remain stronger against the Oli faction if the relationship is maintained, with the possibility of senior leader Nepal joining the group. "JN, Bamdev and Madhav all will stay united and Jhalanath will be PP leader by any means, through election or consensus," said Gokarna Bista, a leader close to Khanal.

The UML has failed to appoint a PP leader due to the internal feud. Though the chances of holding an election for PP leader have increased, insiders claim that settling the feud will be easier once a power-sharing deal with the Nepali Congress is cemented.

"Electing a parliamentary leader is not an issue for us. We can resolve it unanimously at any time," said UML secretary Bishnu Poudel adding, "Our core concern is to make an understanding on a power-sharing deal including the election for the post of president and his deputy."

Tuesday's meeting was supposed to resolve the row over the PP leader, though it remains an issue. Nonetheless, party leaders believe internal management will be without friction once the party receives the presidential post in a power-sharing deal. Though all four leaders have expressed disinterest in the presidential post in recent days, party insiders say any offer would be accepted at the last moment.

At least a two-third majority (401 seats) of the CA is required to amend the constitution to pave way for electing a new president and vice-president. Given that the NC is the largest party, holding 196 of a total 601 seats, garnering this vote would be a Herculean task for a UML candidate as the party commands 21 seats less than the NC.

UML leaders involved in the ongoing negotiations said the party will join an NC-led government though would demand the election of a new president (who must be a UML candidate) and vice-president if the NC agrees to promulgate the constitution within a year. "Since NC- UML has no alternative to working together, a meeting point should be explored right now," said UML leader Bhim Rawal.

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