Maoist leaders' disagreement over party hierarchy

KATHMANDU, July 26: The Maoist secretariat could not reach consensus on the distribution of responsibilities among the party leaders on Sunday as leaders differed over the party hierarchy. After deciding to go for collective leadership, the UCPN (Maoist) has been doing homework for distribution of positions among its leaders.



“The secretariat meeting will continue on Monday as the meeting today could not make any headway,” said Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma. According to party sources, the meeting came to a dead end after Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Narayankaji Shrestha claimed third rank in the party hierarchy. The party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had proposed Narayankaji Shrestha as the General Secretary, but Dr Bhattarai claimed that he should be ranked third in the party hierarchy after Dahal and senior party leader Mohan Baidya.



The party has almost reached consensus to appoint Baidya as the second-in command. Due to the conflict for third rank in the party hierarchy, the party is likely to appoint Baidya, Dr Bhattarai, and Shrestha as vice chairs, while leaving the post of General Secretary to Ram Bahadur Thapa.

Related story

National Dignity Bill in parliament sees changes to the hierarc...