KATHMANDU, April 19: Top leaders of ruling Nepal Communist Party have expedited backdoor negotiations to resolve disputes so that they could merge lower committees of the party by Monday.

April 22 (Monday) marks the establishment day of the first Communist Party of Nepal, which was formed around seven decades ago.

Las year, the existing NCP was formed through a merger of two prominent communist parties — CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center). But the merger has hit a snag mainly at the district level as top leaders continue to clash over the naming the chiefs of the party's district chapters.

Although the party's central and provincial committees have been formed a section of disgruntled leaders led by Madhav Kumar Nepal have been opposing the move. They argue that the party leadership formed those committees arbitrarily instead of respecting their calls to bring all on board.

In their bid to give a positive message to party leaders and cadres on the occasion of the party establishment day, the party's chairmen -- KP Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal -- have been holding a series of meetings with the senior party leaders in recent days. On Thursday, the chairmen duo, summoned the party's secretariat members to discuss possible ways to conclude the party merger process.

The party leaders have discussed possible nominees to head the district chapters.

“Efforts are underway to resolve differences and conclude the merger process at the earliest,” said NCP leader Haribol Gajurel adding, “The chairmen discussed the issue with secretariat members today as well.”

The party has already formed ad hoc committees at the center and the provinces.

But dispute continues over forming district committees as leaders mainly Madhav Nepal and Bamdev Gautam have reportedly demanded that their nominees be appointed as district chiefs. Claiming that former Maoists were elected chiefs at 36 district committees after the merger last year, Nepal and Gautam are demanding that more leaders of the erstwhile UML should be given district chief positions.

But Oli and Dahal have reportedly made a tentative understanding to wrap up the party merger process by April 22. The conclusion reached between the two leaders, according to leaders, will be made public before Monday after consulting the disgruntled leaders in the party.

Hundreds of party cadres working at the grassroots are without responsibilities for more over a year due to delay in forming district committees.

 
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