Former UML lawmaker Rijwan Ansari said the dissident leaders are yet to hold group discussions on the matter and come up with a conclusion. "But the leaders are not in a mood to furnish clarifications because the disciplinary body´s move seeking explanations from us shows the party leadership´s intention of suppressing our views within the party," Ansari told Republica.[break]
The party´s disciplinary body sought clarifications from those who have been pressing that the provinces should be delineated and named solely on the basis of single-ethnic identity even as the party´s central committee meeting decided to stand for multi-ethnic identity. The dissident leaders include UML Vice-chairman Ashok Rai and other influentials such as Prithivi Subba Gurung, Bijay Subba, Ram Chandra Jha, Rakam Chemjong and Rajendra Shrestha.
According to Ansari, this group had earlier decided to give continuity to their intra-party struggle instead of quitting their parties. "But the disciplinary body´s latest move has closed the doors to intra-party struggle for us," he said.
He asked how they can remain within the party if they are not allowed to adopt a policy of intra-party struggle in the cause of the ethnic, indigenous and marginalized communities.
"The move to seek clarifications from us has further widened the distance between our group and the party leadership instead of creating an atmosphere conducive to our resuming party work," he explained.
However, UML leaders close to the party establishment claimed that it will cost the dissident leaders dear if they do not furnish clarifications before the disciplinary body.
A leader said both party Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and chief of the disciplinary body Amrit Bohara are in a mood to take a tough stance if the dissidents don´t act as per the party´s stated policy and official decisions.
"If they furnish clarifications, the leaders may choose to pardon or defer any action but it will be a blunder on the part of the dissidents if the latter choose not to respond at all," a leader close to Khanal told Republica, preferring anonymity.
He said some of the leaders may face serious action if they keep on challenging the party leadership.
He indicated that some of the leaders such as Bijay Subba and Ajambar Kangmang Rai, who have been fiercely criticizing the UML leadership in public, may face disciplinary action in the days to come.
The leader said that the party leadership may opt to be selective in taking action, depending on the nature of the dissidents´ activities.
The leader said the decision to seek clarifications holds special significance in the UML rank and file. "The disciplinary commission keeps records and presents its report to the central committee meetings, to gatherings of party representatives and the general convention," he explained. "Recently, Amrit Bohara had presented details of the disciplinary body´s decision to seek clarifications from the party chairman, vice-chairman and other leaders on different occasions, at a recent gathering of party representatives."
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