KATHMANDU: Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML KP Oli seemed insistent on his stance of forbidding “easy entry” to the dissident faction of the party led by Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal unless they realized their mistakes.
PM Oli said factionalism within the party would not be tolerated anymore. “I will not accept any unruly or undisciplined activities in the party,” an assertive Prime Minister warned hinting at the Madhav-Khanal faction’s anti-PM moves.
He challenged the disgruntled faction to prove their majority in the party while inviting them to come to the central committee meeting scheduled for March 20.
“Let me reiterate my invitation to them to attend the central committee meeting,” PM Oli said in a television interview Sunday evening.
He, however, challenged them to prove their guts by showing their majority in the party.
“I have been telling them that the doors are open if they want to come,” PM Oli said, however, hastening to add, “Factionalism, however, will not be acceptable.”
He also came down heavily on Nepal and Khanal for joining hands with Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” to offend him.
Asked whether he was taking a “tit-for-tat” approach against them, PM Oli responded saying, “Do I have to do that?”
Recalling what he said “libelous” 19-page statement presented by Prachanda against him, PM Oli said, “In fact, they had jointly launched a battle against me.”
The Prime Minister said he would not take the move of dissolving the House of Representatives again. “Why should I do that when the Supreme Court has already reinstated it?”
He expressed his readiness to step down from the premiership. PM Oli, however, said it would be an insult to people’s mandate if he did so.
Prime Minister Oli also refuted reports that he had offered the post of the prime minister to Janata Samajbadi Party leader Mahantha Thakur for the premiership. “This is absolutely wrong,” PM Oli said adding, “Yes, I held talks with the JSP leaders and I have frankly told them that I will not breach the constitution at any cost.”
Prime Minister Oli also said that he would step down if the Maoist Center withdrew its support to the government.
PM Oli added he had no choice but to either face the vote of no-confidence or step down.
“I still have the support of the Maoist Center,” he said.
Comment