While the party establishment faction was for going to the extent of issuing a directive from parliament to scrap the candidacy of Nepali Congress (NC) leader Ram Chandra Paudel, those close to KP Oli and Madhav Kumar Nepal indirectly opined that the party should vote for Paudel. [break]
“The candidacy of Paudel is not an ice ball that melts with time. His candidacy is intact,” a CC member quoted Oli as saying during the meeting.
Oli agreed with the establishment faction that the party should step up talks with the NC and the Maoists for a consensus, but insisted that the party must go for a majority government if the attempt at consensus fails.
The UML leader also criticized the Maoist move for a special session of parliament. “As the major coalition partner, the UML should play a proactive role to defeat the Maoist game,” he said.
Oli was of the view that the party must seek national consensus for the sake of peace and constitution, and if such an attempt fails, the party must go for a majority government, preferably voting for Paudel as prime minister. He said the party can request Paudel to withdraw his candidacy.
But leaders close to the establishment faction argued that Paudel´s candidacy is the major hurdle to consensus, and if he doesn´t withdraw his candidacy by December 19 when parliament´s special sessopm will be held, the party must register a motion in parliament to scrap his candidacy and open the way for political consensus.
- Register motion in House to scrap Paudel´s candidacy: Gautam
- Paudel´s candidacy not an ice ball that melts with time: Oli
“The party must make a move from parliament to scrap the candidacy of Paudel for the sake of national consensus,” a CC leader quoted party Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam as saying during the meeting. Gautam, who is close to party Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, stated that the party may go for a majority government if need be, but the party must first force Paudel to withdraw his candidacy.
He said the party should go for amending the existing legal provision through parliament to facilitate the government formation process in case the bid for consensus fails.
“If Paudel withdraws his candidacy before December 19, the purpose of the special session would be automatically met. It would be a win-win situation,” said UML leader Yogesh Bhattarai.
On Wednesday, Bishnu Paudel from the Oli faction and Ashok Rai and Yubraj Gyanwali from the establishment faction, among others, also expressed their views.
The CC meeting is to continue on Thursday as some CC members are yet to put forth their views. The party is expected to come up with a decision on Thursday.
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