KATHMANDU: The much-awaited meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) ended inconclusively on Wednesday after Prime Minister and party Chairman walked out of the meeting midway.
The meeting which was convened to discuss the proposals and agenda to be presented in the Standing Committee meeting called for Thursday could not continue in the absence of PM Oli.
This has further complicated the intra-party dispute as the scheduled Standing Committee meeting for Thursday has become uncertain.
After weeks of escalated intra-party wrangling, the two factions had decided to hold the meeting of the Standing Committee, something which the disgruntled faction had been demanding for long.
PM Oli was criticized from within the party for centralizing the power with himself.
Sources said that PM Oli left the meeting citing ‘tiredness’ when the meeting was underway, but did not return keeping other Secretariat members wait for him.
Party insiders said PM Oli’s action was the result of his failure to tolerate criticism coming from other Secretariat members regarding what they said ‘controversial decisions’ of the government.
In fact, PM Oli has been widely criticized for ‘failing to perform dexterously’ both as the Prime Minister and the party Chairman.
PM Oli is said to have walked out after he had some heated arguments with NCP Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on some issues.
Of late, the dissatisfied section of the ruling party even engineered the ousting of PM Oli after the latter brought two ordinances two weeks ago, something which has been criticized as Oli’s plan at further consolidating his grip in both the party and the government.
The ordinances, which were immediately endorsed by the President, however, were withdrawn following criticism from all quarters, including the ruling party.
Since then, PM Oli had been trying to woo ruling party leaders to secure his majority both in the party Secretariat and the Parliamentary Party.
It has been said that among the 174 lawmakers representing the ruling NCP, PM Oli has around 78 on his side, which is 10 lawmakers short of a majority.
Both the sides – PM Oli and Dahal-Nepal – had even initiated a signature campaign to prove their strength in the party.
Meanwhile, Chairman Dahal and senior leader Nepal had decided to demand ‘one person, one post’ during Thursday’s Standing Committee meeting.
Oli-Dahal: One-on-one meeting
Meanwhile, immediately after the Secretariat meeting, NCP chairman duo, Oli and ‘Prachanda’ have intensified discussions to narrow down the differences.
NCP Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that Oli and Dahal are having one-on-one meeting.
Asked whether PM Oli’s sudden move, Shrestha said it was because of PM’s busy schedule that he was unable to stay till the end of the meeting.
Secretariat sources said PM Oli turned hesitant on getting his Saturday’s commitment documented in the political report to be presented on behalf of the Chairmen.
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