The meeting was deferred till Sunday after Maoist Chairman Dahal demanded two more days for informal consultations and homework to resolve the dispute. [break]
At the start of the meeting Friday, Chairman Dahal proposed that the party first reach an agreement on the political line and take up the power-sharing issue later on. He also insisted that it was meaningless to reach an agreement on power sharing as demanded by the two vice chairmen of the party- Bhattarai and Baidya - if there was no assurance from them on ending the growing factionalism and polarization in the party.
"We can discuss power sharing and reshuffling of leaders´ responsibilities but first there should be an assurance that the factionalism in the party will come to an end," a senior leader quoted Dahal as saying at the meeting.
Maoist politburo member Bishwa Bhakta Dulal, who is close to Dahal, said reshuffling the leaders´ responsibilities in the party without an end to disagreement on the political line will only solidify the factionalism. "The Baidya and Bhattarai factions are focusing their energies on technical matters, leaving the key political issues aside," he alleged.
But the Baidya and Bhattarai factions are adamant that Dahal must first ensure power sharing in the party and implement the decision of the last standing committee meeting to send an inclusive team into the cabinet.
"We must first implement past decisions and understandings, only then will we build the confidence to take up other agenda," said Kul Prasad KC, who is close to Baidya.
He also accused the Dahal faction of not being interested in sharing power within the party and of only buying time.
The Baidya and Bhattarai factions are suspicious that if they reach an understanding on political issues as demanded by Dahal the latter will ignore power sharing altogether.
Though Dahal and Bhattarai do not have differences on the party´s political line of concluding the peace process and constitution writing, Baidya doesn´t see eye to eye with them on the political line.
At the same time, Baidya and Bhattarai have a common interest in forcing Dahal to share power with them in the party.
"Decision on power sharing will create a positive environment in the party. Since Chairman Dahal has already lost credibility we are no longer in a position to trust him unless he acts on power sharing," said a leader close to Bhattarai.
Bhattarai wants to lead on the parliament front and wishes to replace Dahal as the party´s parliamentary party leader so that he can become prime minister if the chance arises.
Similarly, Baidya has demanded a greater role in the management of the party organization.
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