Dahal was compelled to agree to the hardliners´ demand during a meeting of the party´s top office bearers in Kathmandu.[break]
With the decision, the showdown between the party hardliners and the moderates in the UCPN (Maoist) has been deferred. “The decisive battle in the party has been postponed. It has definitely created a positive environment, but we have yet to see whether we will succeed,” said politburo member Haribol Gajurel who is close to Dahal.
According to sources, Dahal had earlier insisted on holding the national gathering slated for Oct 16 in Kathmandu, but finally backed down after Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya warmed him of “dire consequences.”
“We will be compelled to launch an exposure campaign in the streets the following day if you hold the national gathering,” a source quoted Baidya as saying.
Dahal had finally given in to the demand of Baidya who in turn also agreed to withdraw his own faction´s national gathering slated for Nov 15 in Kathmandu.
According to party leaders, the central committee meeting was called for Nov 3 to seek solutions to the disputes on the party´s tactical lines and power-sharing.
Baidya had also turned down Dahal´s request to hold a central committee meeting prior to Oct 16, and participate -- and put forward his views -- at the scheduled national gathering of party cadres.
Baidya had argued that it was not the time to hold a national gathering of party cadres to inform them about the party´s line, but to hold a central committee meeting to resolve the controversial issues -- handover of the keys of the containers to the Special Committee, signing of the four-point deal with the Madhes-based parties, and return of the properties seized by party cadres to their rightful owners.
For hardliners, these moves mean ideological deviation, and have demanded a central committee meeting to “rectify” the mistakes. Dahal had agreed to hold a central committee meeting, but later went on postponing it, calling a national gathering of party cadres, instead.
Welcoming the decisions taken on Wednesday, leaders from the Baidya faction stated that they would first look at what move the party establishment takes and chart out their course accordingly.
“The chairman was wrong and we had to press him to rectify his mistakes. We are yet to see how he would respond to the issues we have raised,” said Maoist leader Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma.
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