KATHMANDU: Whether it was a straight denial or a gesture of negotiation, Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” rejected President Bidhya Devi Bhandari’s offer for a premiership.
President Bhandari took the opportunity to propose Prachanda the premiership after one year during a meeting held at the President’s Office, Shital Niwas on Tuesday evening.
Highly-placed sources told Khabarhub that President Bhandari wants the NCP to be “strong united and intact” under any circumstances.
However, Prachanda, in a very soft tone, responded, “It’s too late for the offer. How can I trust KP Oli again?”
That wasn’t all. President Bhandari even offered the post of a single Chairmanship of the party after the NCP’s upcoming general convention.
“Be assured. This is not a mere talk,” the source quoted President Bhandari as telling Prachanda, adding, “You give a nod, rest I will handle.”
She also reminded Prachanda about the agreements and the enthusiasm during the time of party unification saying,
“The party was unified to become the country’s largest political force. It is high time that you played the role to keep the party intact. Trust me, people have trust in you.”
“I cannot come to active politics now since I have become the President for two tenures. Only you can do it,” she told Prachanda adding, “All I want to see is a strong and unified NCP.”
During the meeting, President Bhandari warned that the country would even undergo unfortunate circumstances if the NCP underwent a split. “The future is in your hands,” the highly-placed source quoted the President as saying.
According to the source, the President also assured that she would play the role of a “guarantor” with PM Oli.
Meanwhile, NCP Chairman Prachanda is learned to have told President Bhandari that it was “too late now” for the deal.
He reiterated his stance saying that Oli should quit one of the two posts. “I cannot trust Oli anymore,” the source quoted Prachanda as telling President Bhandari.
The President had also conveyed a similar message to NCP Vice-Chairman Bam Dev Gautam and Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa – both members of the NCP Secretariat.
Meanwhile, President Bhandari held talks with Prime Minister KP Oli on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.
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