KATHMANDU: Chairman of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has rebuffed the proposal of the Prime Minister KP Oli faction to defer the Secretariat meeting scheduled for today.
The disgruntled faction led by Prachanda has remained adamant to its stance of convening the meeting today at 1 pm despite urge by the PM Oli-led faction to postpone it for the time being and hold the meeting later sometime on the basis of consensus.
A meeting of the Prime Minister KP Oli-led faction had on Tuesday convened a meeting to chart its strategy in an effort to postpone the Secretariat meeting.
PM Oli said he was ready to convene the meeting of the Secretariat as per the demand of the disgruntled group. “My idea is to hold the meeting on the basis of consensus,” a leader close to PM Oli had conceded.
The source quoted the Prime Minister as saying further, “I am not against the idea of holding the meeting. I want it to be held on the basis of understanding in a conducive environment.”
The meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar attended by leaders close to PM Oli, including Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Prithvi Subba Gurung had proposed the disgruntled faction to postpone the meeting for now.
The PM Oli faction has been insisting that the meeting will not take place until and unless Prachanda’s political report submitted at the meeting of the Secretariat last week is withdrawn.
Meanwhile, the NCP leaders on Tuesday remained busy in meetings to bring the situation to their favor.
What happened on Tuesday?
On Tuesday at 11 am to 4:30 pm, PM Oli met and discussed the issue with some close confidants at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.
Likewise, NCP Chairman Prachanda held a meeting with businessman Ajaya Sumargi from 11:10 am to 12:20 pm at the latter’s residence in Buddhanagar.
Similarly, NCP Senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal held talks with NCP leader Pampha Bhusal at his Koteswor-based residence from 11:50 am to 1:45 pm on Tuesday.
The same day, NCP Vice Chairman Bamdev Gautam held talks with Agriculture Minister Ghanashyam Bhusal at the former’s residence in Bhaisepati from 1:55 pm to 3:10 pm.
Likewise, senior leader Nepal and NCP leader Asta Laxmi Shakya discussed the party wrangling at Nepal’s residence from 2:20-3:30 pm.
Similarly, NCP Chairman Prachanda held talks with seior leader Nepal and Vice Chairman Gautam at Dahal’s residence in Khumaltar from 3:40 – 4:55 pm.
NCP General Secretary Bishnu Paudel met Gautam at the latter’s residence in Bhaisepati from 5:10 – 5:35 pm on Tuesday.
The same day, Prachanda held discussion with Agni Prasad Sapkota, Speaker of the House of Representatives from 5:28 – 5:55 pm at Lainchaur.
In the evening at 6 -7:35 pm, Prachanda met President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas.
The same evening at 6:00 – 7:55 pm, NCP senior leader Nepal met with Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai and Agriculture Minister Ghanshyam Bhusal at his residence Koteshwor.
In the evening at 8:10 PM- 10:10 PM, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi met with PM Oli at the latter’s official residence, Baluwatar.
Tuesday’s hectic schedule concluded with the meeting between PM Oli and President Bhandari at 10:30-11:40 at Shital Niwas.
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