The party, which has been batting for national consensus and facing public criticism for sticking to its neutral stance in previous votings for prime minister, said it would stay neutral in the August 18 vote as well if its initiatives for consensus fail. [break]
But it has worked out the main agenda - mostly relating to the peace process and constitution writing - as the basis for forging national consensus.
“We will take initiatives till the last moment to forge national consensus. If consensus eludes us, we will continue neutral [in voting for prime minister on August 18],” said Pradip Gyawali, party spokesperson, after a meeting of the party´s central committee Wednesday.
A senior central committee leader told Republica the party wanted to stick to its neutral stance in the August 18 vote, hoping that both UCPN-UML and NC will feel pressure and abandon the ongoing election process.
As parliamentary regulations do not allow prime ministerial candidates to withdraw until one of them is elected, the CPN-UML has proposed amending the regulations to facilitate withdrawal.
UML´s decision comes two days after the UCPN-M expressed readiness to withdraw its candidacy if the Nepali Congress did likewise. But Nepali Congress top leaders have already rejected the call, terming it a political tactic. Nepali Congress Acting President Sushil Koirala said before the CPN-UML´s decision that the NC would not withdraw.
“Our party´s decision is an ultimatum to the UCPN-M and NC to withdraw their respective candidacies and come to a national consensus,” said UML central member Jaganath Khatiwada.
The CPN-UML has specified that national consensus is possible if parties agree on managing Maoist combatants and arms, taking the peace process to a logical end, returning property seized by the Maoists, constituting commissions related to the peace process and drafting a democratic constitution, among other things.
The agenda related to the peace process is the main bone of contention between Maoist and non-Maoist parties. The UCPN-M has remained reluctant to produce a credible enough plan for other parties to allow it to lead a government.
The UML central committee convened amidst deep divisions and bitterness among top leaders over the prime ministerial election. Despite pressure from within, the party leadership could not call the meeting earlier due to bitterness among themselves and fears of a possible split.
Another central committee leader said CPN-UML leaders tried to heal the divisions during the central committee meeting Wednesday. Tentative decisions to be taken by the central committee meeting were informally agreed by top leaders before the meeting and Chairman Jhalanath Khanal presented them for discussion at the outset of the meeting.
As per the agreement, only top leaders, including Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, senior leader KP Oli, General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel, party vice-chairmen and Secretary Yubaraj Gawali expressed their views on Khanal´s draft decisions.
The next meeting has been called for August 19 despite demands by 18 members, including Vice-chairman Bidhya Bhandari, to convene one before the August 18 election and change its July-20 decision. As their voice was not heard, they lodged a dissenting note in the minutes of the decisions.
Leaders say that the party is likely at that meeting to change its earlier decision on neutrality.
“By then our internal divisions will heal and that will enable leaders to change the July-20 decision on remaining neutral,” said a central committee member.
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