BUTWAL, Feb 18: In his clearest indication yet, erstwhile Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) chief Jhala Nath Khanal said on Wednesday that he is going to stand for the post of party chairman in the ongoing 8th National Convention of the party.
With another leader KP Sharma Oli not going to back off, the stage is now set for an intense battle between Khanal and Oli, given that former UML chief Madhav Kumar Nepal decides not to come in the fray. [break]
If there is still a chance for the top leader being elected by consensus – which increasingly appears to be an impossible scenario – Nepal can become the leader. Though Nepal has tried to maintain neutrality and has remained unusually quiet so far, he is most likely to throw his weight behind Oli in the event of election. “Sometimes, the time should be let free to take its own course,” Nepal had told journalists Wednesday.
On the other hand, Khanal said, “I am not interested in carrying a light load. Majority (party) delegates have asked me to stand for the chairman’s post. I can’t rule out the possibility of competition.” He also challenged other interested leaders to take on him in the fray.
Oli had told a press briefing Wednesday morning that he would stand for the top job, though he didn’t come out as openly as Khanal did.
The election committee of the convention is likely to make public the election schedule on Friday after the 20 groups present their conclusions on Thursday. If things go as planned, the election will take place on Saturday. However, there is the possibility of delayed election.
Though the statute amendment proposal has the provision of the delegates first electing the central committee, which then will elect the top leaders (chairman, vice-chairman, general secretary and secretary), Oli said he is for the amendment this provision with that of the delegates directly electing leaders for the four posts.
The three leaders – Khanal, Oli and Nepal – have been on regular informal consultations. Tuesday night, Nepal and Oli had held a long meeting in an undisclosed location. The same repeated on Wednesday evening. The Nepal-Oli camp has also brought out a 2-page document against the political paper tabled by Khanal. Both Khanal and Oli reiterated even on Wednesday that best efforts have been made for consensus. The leaders will make up their mind about whether to go for the direct election or electing the leaders on consensus by Thursday.
Earlier in the day, the closed-door session of the delegates endorsed two proposals – one approving all the decisions taken by the erstwhile central committee while urging the upcoming leadership to ensure increased direct participation of junior party cadres; and the other one on remembering the Fagun 7 according to Nepali calendar, the day the Rana oligarchy was overthrown about 58 years ago.
tilak@myrepublica.com
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