KATHMANDU: Bamdev Gautam, the leader of the CPN-UML unity campaign, finds himself in an awkward position once again.
After reaching an “agreement in principle” to rejoin the CPN-UML on Poush 17, Gautam was left embarrassed when he trusted CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli.
A UML meeting from Poush 21 to 23 had opened the door for all former party members, which encouraged Gautam to return to the party on Sunday, Magh 6, and make decisions about his leadership campaign.
Gautam had resigned from the UML on Bhadra 18, 2078, after facing strong opposition from Oli. When the UML Secretariat met on Magh 28, they didn’t immediately embrace Gautam—who had been vice-president during the party’s ninth general convention—and instead opted for a more cooperative approach.
This stymied Gautam’s plan to rejoin the UML and stir up the party. Currently, Oli has not been in contact with him.
Gautam is disappointed, as no leader from the UML has reached out, despite the party’s previous statements of cooperation. He also mentioned that Oli has repeatedly ignored his calls.
During a UML secretariat meeting on Magh 20, senior vice president Ishwor Pokharel and vice president Ram Bahadur Thapa raised the issue of including Gautam.
However, Oli decided not to offer Gautam an immediate position. When Oli asked, Badal explained that Gautam would join the UML and form his own faction.
Pokharel argued that amending the statute to include Gautam as an office-bearer at this stage was not possible.
According to the leaders, there’s no immediate prospect of bringing Gautam back into the UML fold.
Oli and Gautam have had a strained relationship in the past. On Magh 20, Oli had told Gautam, “Let’s work with two hearts beating as one.”
Gautam, excited by Oli’s statement, remarked, “Even if we fight, it should stay within the party. Let’s keep quiet outside and let brothers form a party together.”
So, what is Gautam’s next move? Is he planning to join the Unified Socialist Party? How is his cooperation with the UML progressing? Khabarhub recently had a brief conversation with Gautam on these matters.
Despite the UML’s adoption of a cooperation policy, no actual unity has occurred with the campaign. So, how is the cooperation progressing now?
Nothing has happened. There’s confusion. We’ve been told to wait and cooperate. It’s stated in words that they will cooperate, but in practice, there’s nothing happening.
Why didn’t it happen? You mentioned earlier that it wouldn’t matter now, didn’t you?
Why didn’t it happen? I’m surprised too. They said they would cooperate, but will the talks eventually move forward? We’re hoping they will.
Have you met or spoken with UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli recently?
No, I haven’t. I called him, but he didn’t pick up. After he didn’t respond, I stopped calling. The last time I called was around Saturday, but he didn’t answer. I called before that as well.
Have there been any discussions or dialogues with UML and Oli’s leadership?
No, there’s been no dialogue with anyone. We’ve been told to cooperate, but what does that even mean? What cooperation? Where is it?
There’s been no discussion or communication. Perhaps they’ve been busy with government work.
There were rumors that you were going to join the Unified Socialist Party, is that true?
That’s not the case now. I’m not in dialogue with the Unified Socialist Party. There were a lot of rumors, but I wasn’t going to join.
It wasn’t finalized, though we were positive about it at the time. Nothing has happened on that front. After joining the UML, the discussions with my friends there stopped.
Did they not communicate after you decided to join the UML?
We should also make an effort to communicate. We haven’t tried at all. We need to take the initiative ourselves.
There’s no need to discuss it now outside of the UML—those discussions should happen within the party.
You seem to have been a bit hasty in joining the UML. Some say you are neither here nor there. What do you think?
I have nothing to say about that. People can say whatever they want. There are leaders on both sides, and the cadres below remain the same.
Efforts were made to join quickly, no matter where I went. But I didn’t expect the UML to be so uncooperative. There’s been no cooperation, and even now, there’s no framework in place.
Oli has said, “We should work with two hearts beating as one.” What do you think about this?
We were simply announced as part of the UML. But the UML didn’t officially recognize us.
It seems we rushed into it. My point is that the UML shouldn’t forget our values and beliefs.
Are you running a faction in the UML? Was this discussed at the secretariat meeting?
That’s incorrect. I’m not running a faction. Those who are in power now are the ones running factions.
KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal are the ones dividing the party. They divided the NCP. Their associates are trying to get me to talk to them and help them leave. But when did I ever run a faction?
If I had, where would I be now? After the unity with the Maoists, a faction was formed—one led by KP and the other by Prachanda. I ended up in the Prachanda-led faction.
But I feel like I was pushed into it. I would have preferred to stay in KP’s faction if I could have.
So, do you have plans to return to Prachanda’s camp?
I don’t know. I’m not in favor of returning to Prachanda, under any circumstances. Now, I will make my own decisions.
What do you want to say to your well-wishers?
Let’s wait a bit and see how things unfold. The path we’ve taken is the fastest and most promising one.
We should reach a conclusion within a month and a half. Don’t panic. This is not the time for panic. Things are coming together.
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