Maoists to finalize power sharing Sunday

KATHMANDU, July 24: After weeks-long bargaining, the UCPN (Maoist) has finally settled the contentious issue of power-sharing in the party. The party is also likely to reshuffle its team in the cabinet on Sunday.



As per the decision taken by the party central committee (CC) meeting on Saturday, Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai would take charge of the party´s parliamentary board, Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya would be the chief of the party organizational department and disciplinary commission, and General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa would be the party´s military in-charge and chief of the party central office. Senior leaders of the party finalized the new power arrangement. [break]



The alliance also retracted the demand for Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal´s resignation as the parliamentary party leader and appointment of Bhattarai in that position. “However, there has been a gentleman´s agreement that the chairman would leave the position of the parliamentary party leader to Bhattarai after August 31. Bhattarai would be appointed prime minister if the party gets a chance to lead a national consensus government,” said party leader Ganga Shrestha who is close to Bhattarai.



Narayankaji will benefit immediately from the deal as he would lead the party in the government as the deputy prime minister and head the home ministry, replacing Krishna Bahadur Mahara. CP Gajurel would head the party´s talks team and external political front, while Dev Gurung from the Baidya faction is likely to take over the post of chief whip currently held by Posta Bahadur Bogati. Bogati is likely to become the minister for information and communications. Kamala Roka is likely to become whip if Jayapuri Gharti becomes the minister for women, children and social welfare.



As per the deal, the Dahal and the Baidya factions would get four each, Bhattarai three, and Shrestha one ministry. The CC meeting on Sunday morning is likely to finalize the name-list of minister nominees.



The alliance forged by Baidya and Bhattarai, which was backed by Thapa and Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha, had collected signatures of majority members of the party CC in an attempt to cut Dahal down to size and force him to adopt collective leadership.



The party plans to divide work among leaders up to the CC level. In the CC meeting on Saturday, Dahal also proposed the formation of a team to handle the party´s financial system. Making the party´s financial system transparent was also the major demand of the alliance.

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