KATHMANDU, Dec 19: Amid escalating intra-party conflict within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NC), Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is all set to visit Puspha Kamal Dahal at the latter’s residence in Khumaltar later today.

Former House Speaker Subas Nembang had telephoned Dahal that Prime Minister Oli is visiting him at his residence for further negotiation to settle the intra-party conflict, according to sources close to Dahal. Prime Minister Oli’s decision to visit Dahal comes at a time when both the factions within the party are organizing their separate gatherings across districts to assess their strength in an apparent bid to split the party.

The intra-party conflict between Oli and Dahal reached its peak when Prime Minister Oli decided to issue a controversial ordinance on the Constitutional Council on Tuesday after House Speaker Agni Sapkota, who is considered close to Chairman Dahal, abstained from the Constitutional Council meeting. The meeting was expected to make crucial nominations in various constitutional bodies.

Although the two sides reached a temporary ceasefire after Oli agreed to withdraw the ordinance that paves the way to convene the Constitutional Council meeting even if there is presence of only three of the total six members, the reluctance on the part of Prime Minister to withdraw the ordinance has made the rival faction in the party suspicious of the intention of Oli. 

Many see Oli’s decision to visit Dahal as a last-ditch effort to save the party unity. Failure to reach any consensus between the two sides could push the NCP towards a fresh split, announcing the end of the merger between the erstwhile CPN-UML and CPN(Maoist Center). 

Prime Minister Oli is put under extreme pressure after all senior leaders of the former UML have chosen to join the Dahal-led faction. He has fallen in the minority in all party committees after this development. This is the first time in many months Oli is visiting Dahal in Khumaltar, although Dahal frequently visited Baluwatar to meet him.

 
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