A meeting of the party´s top office bearers on Tuesday took a decision to this effect. [break]
“We have decided to take the initiative for a national consensus,” said party Secretary CP Gajurel after the meeting. He said the top office bearers have been entrusted with the task of holding talks with other parties.
“Bhattarai is our prime ministerial candidate -- whether the party leads a majority government or a consensus one,” said CP Gajurel.
The Maoist party secretary stated that his party is ready to strike a concrete deal on the peace process, but added that the other political parties should also come up with their roadmap for negotiations.
Party leaders close to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal have argued that the party is ready for give and take on the issues of peace process and constitution drafting in order to lead a national consensus government, but it would not capitulate to each and every demand of the NC and the UML. “We cannot surrender ourselves just for the sake of government leadership. A deal should be struck on the basis of past agreements,” said Shakti Basnet, who is close to Dahal.
Leaders close to Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya also stated that there must be give and take while striking a concrete deal on the peace process. “If they want the return of properties seized during the People´s War, they should also be ready to withdraw trumped up legal cases against the party leaders. They should also legitimize the decisions take by the people´s government during the People´s War,” said Kul Prasad KC, who is close to Baidya.
According to leaders, the Maoist party is scheduled to hold a formal meeting with the Madhesi Democratic Front (MDF) at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, and also hold talks with the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML in the evening if possible.
The top office bearers´ meeting has decided to appoint Ram Karki from the Bhattarai faction as in-charge of the Maoist Limbuwan state, Dilaram Acharya and Giridharilal Neupane, both of whom joined the party recently, as deputy in-charges of Abadh and Magarat respectively, and Sabitri Kumar Kafle from the Baidya faction as secretary for Kochila.
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