KATHMANDU, Feb 19: Most of the 20 groups that have made presentations on their conclusions at the ongoing national convention of the CPN-UML lambasted the erstwhile party leadership Thursday for becoming just an assistant to the Maoists.
“They have also sought the resignation of the Home Minister (Bam Dev Gautam), accusing him of not doing enough to bring to book the guilty behind the killing of the UML candidate in Surkhet prior to last year’s Constituent Assembly election,” said one delegate. “They have expressed concern about the protection of UML cadres (from Maoist attacks).”[break]
UML leader from the Bheri-Karnali region, Nawaraj Rawal, told the closed-door gathering of party delegates that the guilty in the murder of UML cadre Govinda Pandey has not been punished. However, talking to myrepublica.com, Home Minister´s press coordinator, Bishwomani Subedi, objected to the leak of information about what´s happening in the closed-door session, by the members of UML´s publicity department in an "irresponsible manner".
Altogether six groups – representing Gandaki, Lumbini-B, Seti-Mahakali, party sister organizations, nominated delegates and central department – made their presentations at the close of business (at about 7 pm). Remaining 14 groups will give their presentations on Friday.
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The groups have also said the top four party positions should be elected directly by the 1,816 delegates. “Most of them have spoken unanimously for direct election of these office-bearers -- chairman, vice-chairman, general-secretary and secretary -- by the hall,” another delegate told myrepublica.com. The groups have also said outgoing General Secretary JN Khanal’s political document has undermined People’s Multiparty Democracy (PMD), the party’s main guiding policy that was propounded by the late party chief Madan Bhandari 17 years ago.
The 1,800-plus delegates had been divided into 20 groups on Wednesday to discuss and suggest amendments to the political paper presented by Khanal, five supplementary proposals and a statute amendment proposal tabled by Amrit Bohara. Party leader Ishwar Pokharel told a daily press briefing Thursday afternoon that each group has been given 10 minutes to present its conclusions.
Pokharel also said the first group led by Khaga Raj Adhikari (Gandaki zone) emphatically suggested that the main office bearers be chosen through direct election. He further said efforts will be made to ensure that the plum positions are as inclusive as possible.
Talking about efforts among the top leaders -- Madhav Nepal, KP Oli and JN Khanal -- to find a consensus candidate for the post of chairman, Pokharel said utmost efforts have been made to agree on a consensus candidate. Earlier, Khanal had said there were positive indications that the top leader would indeed be elected by consensus.
