The party´s standing committee meeting on Saturday scrapped general membership of Vice-Chairman Rai, politburo member Bijay Subba, central committee members Rajendra Shrestha, Bir Bahadur Lama, Ajambar Rai Kangmang, former Peace Minister Rakam Chemjong, former lawmakers Mangalsiddhi Manandhar, Gopal Thakur and Rijwan Ansari.[break]
"Now onward, their names will be deleted from the respective committees´ lists," party secretary Bishnu Paudel told Republica.
All of the nine leaders, among others, had already announced their dissociation with CPN-UML amidst a gathering in Kathmandu on October 4, vowing to form a new political party to champion single ethnic identity-based federalism and social inclusion.
A group of dissidents including the nine politicians had been boycotting CPN-UML´s meetings and formal events expressing their differences over the party´s official position on state restructuring.
While the dissidents had been demanding that the party stand for naming and delineating would-be provinces based on single-ethnic-identity whereas the party establishment lobbied for naming and delineation of provinces based on multiple identities.
While the nine leaders quit the party, some other noted leaders including Prithivi Subba Gurung, Kiran Gurung, Dal Bahadur Rana had opted not to quit as they believed the party had moved a step ahead by accepting multiethnic provinces.
They decided to stay within the party as the establishment ensured them that they would be allowed to run intra-party debate over their differences. Another dissident politburo member Ram Chandra Jha is on a wait and watch mood for some days.
The dissidents had submitted a nine-point demand letter to the party leadership and the latter had responded in writing to the disgruntled groups.
"Both the documents will be circulated among the party rank and file as per the party´s established system and code of conduct," said a statement issued by party secretary Bishnu Paudel. It was one of the demands submitted by the disgruntled group.
The party also called upon all those dissidents who have remained inactive for months to resume their job as assigned to them previously.
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