After the majority of CPN-RM central committee members started a signature campaign for reuniting the two parties at the earliest, Baidya, who was not happy with the proposal, decided on Sunday to defer the party central committee meeting by a month, apparently, with a view to avoid the pressure.During a party central committee meeting last week, the party leaders were divided over the terms of reunification with the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led UCPN (Maoist) party.
A CPN-RM faction led by General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa, submitted a political paper in the central committee meeting, stressing reunification and brushing aside host of conditions put forward by Chairman Baidya.
After Baidya adjourned the party central committee meeting, the disgruntled faction decided to take their campaign to the party rank and file in a bid to pile pressure against the party chairman.
"We don't think the party chairman would disagree with our idea as more than two-thirds majority of the CC members support reunification with the UCPN (Maoist) party," said CPN-RM Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal.
At a Thapa-led factions' meeting at a club in Sanepa, Lalitpur on Sunday, the leaders decided to give party Chairman Baidya a month to consider their demand for reunification, said party central committee member Ramdeep Acharya.
Leaders close to Thapa claimed that over 100 party central committee members participated in the signature campaign supporting the idea of reunification. "Over 120 CC members have put their signature supporting our campaign, but we want to take the decision keeping our party intact," said Acharya.
Party Vice President CP Gajurel, Hari Bhakta Kandel and Pari Thapa are in favor of Baidya's argument.
"The party chairman, too, is not against the reunification, but he wants clear stand of UCPN (Maoist) on the state restructuring, the new constitution, the government and the struggle," Kandel said. "But there were voices at the CC meeting that called for splitting the party if Baidya did not change his stance."
Baidya faction leaders already suspect that Ram Bahadur Thapa-led faction has made up its mind to split the party.
Kandel further opined that Baidya is open to settle disputed issues over reunification convening national conclave of the party.
Thapa-led faction is considering going ahead with party reunification even if Baidya declines their proposal, said a leader. Thapa-led faction has been impressed with UCPN (Maoist) over its stance on nationalism, in the aftermath of promulgation of the new constitution.
Still, the faction has differing views with the mother party on certain subjects such as the understanding the new constitution and the definition of socialism, among other issues.
CPN-Maoist had vertically split from UCPN (Maoist) in 2012 following a serious dispute over integration of former Maoist combatants into the national army and ideological differences.
Along with Baidya-led CPN-RM, reunification debates are underway with other breakaway faction of Maoist parties. Reunification talks are making positive headway with Mani Thapa-led CPN-Revolutionary, Matrika Yadav led CPN (Maoist) and some leaders in Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist, said CPN-RM youth leader Acharya.
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