KATHMANDU: The meeting held between CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and the leaders of the disgruntled faction led by Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal has concluded inconclusively with both the sides sticking to their own guns.
Despite the positive ambience as claimed by Raghuji Panta, leader of the Nepal faction, the meeting could not strike any chords.
According to leader Panta, the Nepal-faction insisted that they would not accept the decisions made by Chairman Oli on March 12, and that Chairman Oli must withdraw it unconditionally.
PM and Chairman Oli had on March 12 nominated 23 former leaders of the CPN (Maoist Center) to the UML’s Central Committee.
The disgruntled faction has also insisted that all previous decisions be cancelled and move ahead in a unified manner.
“We have reiterated our stance that all decisions made in our absence have to be annulled,” Bhim Rawal, a leader close to Madhav Nepal told reporters after the meeting.
According to a leader, who participated in the meeting, Madhav Nepal remained adamant to his stance of not accepting Chairman Oli’s decision of March 12.
Nepal demanded that all decisions be annulled.
UML Chairman Oli, however, said that the decision of the meeting held on March 12 will not be reconsidered.
Monday’s meeting had started at the Central Party Office in Dhumbarahi at 11 am.
Participating in the meeting were General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel, Deputy General Secretary Bishnu Paudel, Spokesperson Pradeep Gyawali, Standing Committee member Subas Nembang from the Oli faction.
Similarly, senior leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal, Bhim Rawal, Ghanashyam Bhusal, Raghuji Pant, and Gokarna Bista participated in the meeting representing the disgruntled faction.
The meeting took place in Dhumbarahi after Madhav Nepal refused to hold talks at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.
This is the first meeting taking place between the two factions after Prime Minister Oli dissolved the House of Representatives (HoR) on December 20 last year.
The talks between the two factions are taking place at a time when the intra-party feud has taken a new height.
Comment