In a tit-for-tat move, NCP's Dahal-Nepal faction asks Nembang to resign from post of deputy parliamentary party leader

Published On: March 3, 2021 05:21 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Photo courtesy: Bishnu Rijal/NCP's Dahal-Nepal faction

KATHMANDU, March 3: In a tit-for-tat move, the Dahal-Nepal faction of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has asked Subhash Nembang, a leader of the party's rival faction, to resign from the post of deputy parliamentary party leader.

A central committee (CC) meeting of the faction held on Wednesday at Parisdanda, the headquarters of the party faction, instructed Nembang to step down from the post of deputy parliamentary party leader for breaching party discipline.

The move comes nearly a week after the Oli-led faction of the party removed Dev Prasad Gurung, a leader belonging to the Dahal-Nepal faction, from the post of party's chief whip.

Today's CC meeting also decided to take action against five leaders close to the Oli-led faction for breaching party discipline. According to Bhim Rawal, a standing committee member of the faction, Prabhu Shah, Mahesh Basnet, Surya Thapa, Shanta Chaudhary and Karna Bahadur Thapa have been suspended for six months “for working against party interests.”

Likewise, central committee member Bishal Bhattarai has been removed from the post.

Last week, the Oli-led faction picked Bhattarai as the new chief whip of the party replacing Dev Gurung, a leader belonging to the Dahal-Nepal faction. The Dahal-Nepal faction has accused Bhattarai of working against party interests at the behest of chairperson of the Oli-led faction, KP Sharma Oli.

The central committee meeting of the Dahal-Nepal faction also condemned Prime Minister Oli for not resigning from the post. While criticizing PM Oli's remarks that his life is in danger, the party faction observed that he has no grounds to stay in power any more.

The central committee meeting of the faction also condemned the arrest of its leader Ram Kumari Jhakri for her remarks critical of President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Likewise, the meeting also regretted the Election Commission’s decision not to grant official recognition to their party faction even as it holds a majority in the party's central committee.