HLPC sharply divided over Baidya's demands

NC, UML firm against changes in govt, poll date deferral

UCPN (Maoist) for Regmi’s resignation as chief justice

KATHMANDU, Sept 15: Constituent parties of the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) are sharply divided over whether or not to accept the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist’s demand for changes in government and deferral of the Constituent Assembly (CA) election.

Leaders from the UCPN (Maoist), at the HLPC meeting on Saturday, proposed seeking resignation of Khil Raj Regmi, chairman of the interim election government, as the chief justice (CJ) if that helps bring the CPN-Maoist and other agitating political parties on board the election process.

But, Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML leaders strongly opposed the idea.

UCPN (Maoist) Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha proposed seeking Regmi’s resignation as chief justice at the meeting. “We must address some of the demands put forth by the CPN-Maoist,” a leader quoted Shrestha as saying at the meeting. “Seeking Regmi’s resignation as chief justice would be a practical step.”

However, NC and UML leaders firmly stood against any changes in government and deferral of the polls. “Our emphasis is on concentrating our energies on making the November 19 polls successful because deferring the polls and making changes in the government would only make the elections uncertain,” CPN-UML leader Agni Kharel told Republica.

NC leader Minendra Rijal echoed Kharel. He said changes in government and poll deferral are unacceptable to NC.

Stating that the agitating CPN-Maoist’s readiness to participate in the polls was an opportunity to resolve the ongoing political deadlock, Shrestha said, “Some external power centers and their stooges have been actively working to vitiate the situation after the Baidya-led party decided to participate in the polls.”

“They want instability in Nepal so we have to foil their attempts and bring the agitating party on board the election process by demonstrating maximum flexibility,” Shrestha told Republica.

Presenting a four-point proposal at the 19-party meeting called by President Ram Baran Yadav on Friday, the CPN-Maoist had formally agreed to participate in the CA elections. But the party demanded deferral of the polls by four months and resignation of Regmi as CJ.

NC and UML leaders said allowing the parties to register with the Election Commission and giving a few more days for preparatory works is all that can be done to bring the agitating parties on board the election process. They said the election may be deferred for 10-15 days but not for months.

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal didn’t attend the HLPC meeting on Saturday.

Shrestha, Post Bahadur Bogati and Krishna Bahadur Mahara from the UCPN (Maoist), NC President Sushil Koirala and other leaders from the NC and Raghuji Pant and Kharel from the CPN-UML were present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, UCPN (Maoist) leader Baburam Bhattarai, through social media, has urged one and all to create environment favorable for the Baidya-led party to join the election process. “Or else, everyone will have to regret,” he said on his Facebook page.