KATHMANDU: The Secretariat meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) held on Saturday also ended amidst ‘quarrels’ among leaders.
The Secretariat meeting held on Tuesday had ended amidst allegations and counter-allegations. Chairman and Prime Minister KP Oli, who was absent from the Secretariat meeting on Wednesday, was present at the meeting.
Although the meeting was expected to find a ‘way out’ for resolving the dispute, a Secretariat member stated that the verbal assault continued at the meeting as well.
At a meeting held at the PM’s residence in Baluwatar, Chairman Oli reiterated his old point.
Stating that there was no need to hold a meeting, Oli also indicated that he would not attend the Standing Committee (SC) meeting scheduled at the party’s central office in Dhumbarahi on Sunday.
Chairman Oli said that a meeting of the Standing Committee was convened for Sunday without setting an agenda.
He also accused the majority of members including Executive Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda of using force.
“Let’s not use too much force. I have said it before. Prachanda’s letter of insult is not suitable for discussion. It should be taken back; I can’t take it to the Standing Committee. The meeting of the Standing Committee will not be held tomorrow. Let’s discuss this here. Let’s draw a conclusion. Only then, the meeting can be held,” the member said, quoting Oli at a Secretariat meeting on Saturday.
According to a leader who participated in the meeting, the meeting that lasted for three and a half hours was focused on summoning the Standing Committee meeting or not.
The proposal of resolving the issue by forming a task force was also raised in the meeting. Secretariat member Ram Bahadur Thapa alias Badal, who is also the Home Minister, had proposed to form a task force to resolve the dispute.
Badal had proposed to resolve the dispute by forming a task force comprising Secretariat members, saying that if the party’s dispute reached the standing committee, it would send a message that the Secretariat had failed.
General Secretary Bishnu Poudel also supported Badal’s proposal. In the meeting, General Secretary Poudel and Ishwor Pokharel also said that tomorrow’s meeting should not be held.
However, the member said that Poudel and Pokharel were also ready for the meeting after it was agreed to continue the informal dialogue.
However, Badal’s proposal was rejected by Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam.
“I won’t’ be in the task force. Instead, I also have written documents, I will present them at the meeting,” said a Secretariat member quoting Gautam.
The leader said that Prime Minister Oli was also positive about forming a task force.
Chairman Prachanda did not speak much at the meeting. He proposed to convene the Standing Committee meeting at party headquarters on Sunday, to which the majority of Secretariat members agreed.
Despite Oli’s stand that the Standing Committee meeting should not be held, the majority of members of the secretariat had concluded that the meeting should be held at the party’s central office in Dhumbarahi on Sunday afternoon. Accordingly, Spokesperson Narayankaji Shrestha briefed the media after the meeting.
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