“We are yet to fully reach consensus on the issues; we want consensus on the issues on the whole. We are not yet sure whether we will hold a meeting of the standing committee Wednesday,” said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha. [break]
Top three leaders of the party -- Chairman Dahal, Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai -- were scheduled to hold an informal meeting in the evening to bridge the differences, but cancelled the meeting in the final hours.
According to leaders, the party plans to hold a meeting, as the failure to do so would send a negative message to the other parties and the people that the party is currently facing serious internal crisis.
“I don´t know if there is any significance in holding a meeting without the leaders forging consensus on the issues. The party is just sending the contentious issues from one committee to another. What if the party cannot settle the differences in the standing committee,” said a senior Maoist leader close to Baidya.
While postponing the central committee (CC) meeting on Friday, Dahal had stated that he would first hold a meeting of the standing committee to minimize the differences prior to resuming the CC.
Dahal in the CC was supposed to table concrete proposals on the management of intra-party dissents, peace process and constitution drafting, and sharing of responsibilities in the party. But the meeting was postponed without entering into discussions due to serious differences.
The party leaders from hard-line faction said the chairman has to thrash out a concrete policy to be implemented prior to August 28 -- the date of expiry of the second extended term of the CA -- and the alternatives if the party fails in its mission.
“The chairman should come up with plans on constitution and integration issues and also propose an alternative path if the party´s sincere moves are foiled by domestic and international reactionaries. But the chairman wants to put these major issues in the backburner and bring other minor issues to the fore,” said leader Kul Prasad KC who is close to Baidya.
According to KC, the chairman should set bottom-lines on five major issues: constitution of the "People´s Federal Democratic Republic", scientific land reforms, state restructuring and system of governance, judiciary, and national security policy.
“The party should also get the command of the mixed forces under a directorate of the Nepal Army, which should be given the responsibility of border and national park security,” he said.
The party hard-line faction is opposed to the completion of the integration process prior to promulgation of the constitution.
Dr Bhattarai is close to Dahal on the issue of the party-line, but has forged an alliance with Baidya to cut Dahal down to size.
Related story
Walk in the clouds: World’s longest pedestrian suspension bridg...
