Prachanda discusses with Secretariat members as feud escalates in NCP

KATHMANDU: An informal meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Secretariat summoned by Executive Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda has begun at the party’s central office in Dhumbarahi.

Chairman Prachanda, Vice-Chairman Bamdev Gautam, senior leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal and party spokesperson Narayankaji Shrestha are present in the meeting.

Another Chairperson KP Oli, General Secretary Bishnu Poudel, Secretariat members Ram Bahadur Thapa and Ishwor Pokharel have snubbed the meeting.

Prachanda, who walked out frustrated from the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar after holding talks with Prime Minister Oli on Thursday, is scheduled to hold “serious talks” with the party Secretariat members.

Chairman Prachanda had informed NCP Deputy Leader of the parliamentary party Subash Chandra Nembang, who had reached Dahal’s residence in Khumaltar to meet him this morning that he would be holding separate talks with Secretariat members.

The NCP has reached a critical juncture of late owing to serious differences between NCP Chairman Dahal and Prime Minister Oli.

Dahal has been insisting that the Prime Minister needs to implement the decisions of the Standing Committee decision made previously.