KATHMANDU: Notwithstanding the heated arguments in Saturday’s widely-anticipated Secretariat meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), leaders agreed to set agendas for the May 7 Standing Committee meeting.
Prime Minister KP Oli acknowledged his drawbacks in the management of the party. “I acknowledge the fact that I had some weaknesses,” a Secretariat member quoted PM Oli as saying at the meeting held at Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Saturday evening.
PM Oli reiterated that he was ready to move forward on the basis of consensus.
Party senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, meanwhile, remained adamant to his stance saying, “Let’s not linger…my emphasize is to resolve all problems and misunderstandings at the Standing Committee meeting.”
Senior leader Jhalanath Khanal echoed Nepal’s voice saying, “We are accustomed to the tendency of failing to transform words into action. Therefore, instead of dilly-dallying, convening the Standing Committee meeting would be the best option.”
NCP Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who held a 40-minute-long talks with PM Oli prior to Saturday’s Secretariat meeting also reiterated his call to thrash out all differences from the Standing Committee once and for all.
It is learnt that the meeting between Dahal and Oli succeeded in narrowing down the differences between the two factions — PM Oli, and Dahal-Nepal.
In fact, Dahal, too, acknowledged his weaknesses in leading the party, according to sources.
Party Vice Chairman, Bam Dev Gautam then raised concern saying, “Politics of groupism in the party has sent a negative image to the cadres and the people. A consensus is the best option.”
Party Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha criticized PM Oli for changing his words. “This is high time the PM stuck to this commitment. This will damage the party.”
Secretariat member and Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa emphasized on party unity. “This is the demand of the party workers.”
Gautam then thundered, “Now, what will be my fate? I cannot become a minister even if I am nominated to the National Assembly.”
Then came the final say: “Gautam will be taken to the House of Representatives in an appropriate time.”
It should be noted that the Secretariat meeting has decided to summon the meeting of the Standing Committee of the party at 11 am on May 7.
The meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Saturday evening decided to that effect, according to NCP Spokesperson Narayankaji Shrestha.
Earlier, 20 Standing Committee members had written a letter to the Chairman duo demanding a meeting of the Standing Committee.
A Secretariat meeting will be held on May 6 earlier to the Standing Committee meeting to set agendas, according to Shrestha.
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