According to leaders privy to the latest development in the party, Khanal at the meeting is going to propose that standing committee member KP Sharma Oli be given the third position -- after Khanal and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal -- in the party hierarchy.[break]
At present, Oli is believed to be feeling humiliated as he has been placed in tenth position after the party chairman, Nepal, three vice-chairmen, general secretary and three party secretaries. UML leaders said Oli had many a time skipped party functions to avoid sharing podiums with junior leaders.
Leaders said Khanal at Sunday’s meeting is however not planning to propose making Oli and two other senior leaders -- Bamdev Gautam and Amrit Bohara -- CA members under proportional representation system. “The proposal to make the leaders CA members will come later at an appropriate time,” said a leader.
Khanal’s proposal to be presented at the standing committee is keenly observed as it has come at a time when the chairman and Oli have reportedly forged an alliance of late.
This development is considered remarkable as the two leaders represented two rival factions within the party ever since Khanal was elected chairman defeating Oli three years ago. Since then, Oli and former Prime Minister Nepal led the anti-Maoist faction while Khanal had a soft corner for the former rebel party.
Revamp in work divisions
But Khanal is believed to be preparing to propose a revamp in the party’s work divisions. “This time, he will certainly address the concern relating to work division because some leaders are over-mandated while others have no role in the party,” said a leader privy to the development.
Following the emergence of Khanal-Oli alliance, Nepal and party general secretary Ishwar Pokharel are believed to be planning to fortify their positions in the party.
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