The party while unveiling the manifesto on Saturday declared Dahal as “the leader of the nation” instead. The manifesto has claimed that Dahal, with his ´great talent´, has established himself as “the undisputed leader” of the country.[break]
Observers have construed it as a tactful and safe way learning from the past experience.
The recent decision was a surprise development for many as the party had projected Dahal as future president during the Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008.
As the UCPN (Maoist) couldn"t elect the party"s candidate as president even after it emerged as the largest party in 2008 election, the party"s rivals had often ridiculed Dahal as bhitte rastrapati [president limited to graffiti].
UCPN (Maoist) leader Khim Lal Devkota said that the major reason behind the latest decision was to establish Dahal as a “statesman” beyond any post or position.
Devkota also admitted that past experience also guided them not to project him as president. “It is true that our decision in 2008 had backfired after the election as our rivals often used it to ridicule our leader because we couldn"t win some key posts such as president, vice-president, CA chairman and chairman of the CA"s constitutional committee,” Devkota explained.
In 2008, Nepali Congress (NC) candidate became president, Madhesi People"s Rights Forum nominee won the post of vice-president, CPN-UML leader became CA chairman cum speaker and NC member was elected head of the CA"s constitutional committee. “So, that realization is reflected on our new manifesto,” said Devkota.
Analyst Khagendra Sangraula found the UCPN (Maoist)"s new decision as a “tactful” move taken after learning a lesson from the past. He believed that the Maoist leaders did so as other parties ridiculed Dahal as “bhitte rastrapati” in the past.
The recent move is also seen as an attempt by the party to diffuse factional disputes.
A central committee member said that the party leadership chose not to project Dahal as future president because a group of leaders within the party suggested keeping the option open. The leader argued that it was only two years back that the party won prime ministerial election in parliament only after proposing Bhattarai for the post. The party had to propose him after Dahal couldn"t win it even after several rounds of votes in the House.
Dahal-Bhattarai gentlemen"s understanding
Bhattarai claimed that the decision to propose the party chairman as leader of the nation had nothing to do with their intra-party disputes. “We took this decision because we have realized the need for nation-building and a national leader, who can rise above partisan interests and lead the country,” Bhattarai told a group of journalists at his residence on Saturday.
Asked if it was a move to placate the factions in the party, Bhattarai quipped, “It"s not true.”
He, however, said that they [Bhattarai and Dahal] have reached a gentlemen"s understanding about the leadership of the post-election government. “There is a gentlemen"s understanding between us [two leaders] to take any position and play any role by anyone as necessitated by the situation,” said Bhattarai.
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