Though the voices for changing the stance are getting stronger, the UML is still deeply divided on the issue.[break]
Party Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and leaders loyal to him are still for firmly standing in favor of the party´s present stance to not vote any of the two candidates. But party heavyweight KP Sharma Oli and leaders close to him have said in public that the party must change its present stance and end the protracted deadlock.
Vice-chair Bidya Bhandari Thursday clearly said in public that the UML should break its neutrality and cast vote for Nepali Congress (NC) prime ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Poudel. UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Poudel are currently in the prime ministerial race.
“UML can´t stay neutral any longer. We should vote for NC candidate,” Defense Minister Bhandari told reporters in Parbat district.
Party secretary Yuvraj Gyawali ruled out the possibility of UML changing its long-held stance. “UML is very clear in its stance. It will neither make any changes in its decision nor will it vote for NC. It is simply impossible,” he said.
A central leader maintained that it is not only the staunch Oli supporters like Bhandari but other leaders, who claim to be neutral, have also felt the pressure to change the party´s stance.
Party Spokesperson Pradip Gyawali thinks the time has come for the UML to seriously review its decision. He said though the concept paper put forth by UML was appreciated by people in general, the party may not stick to it as the proposal failed to yield any results.
“The political developments unfolding in recent days are leading the situation in favor of forming the government under Maoist leadership. Therefore, the circumstances has pressed us to review our decision,” Spokesman Gyawali said. The UML and NC have been saying that they can´t accept government led by Maoists unless the party detaches itself from its arms and armies.
Central member Ghanshyam Bhusal, who is close to Khanal, said the UML would still try to convince other parties to implement its concept paper.
He said the UML leaders who are lobbying in favor of NC were in the same position since the beginning. “Differing opinions raised from inside the party is not crucial. It can make no change in the party. UML is rather feeling genuine pressure from the general public,” he said.
Leaders close to the prime minister claimed the opinion to change the stance is becoming stronger within the party. They said the chairman can no longer stop the party from changing the decision. “The only thing is whether to go for division of opinions within the party,” he said.
The ruling party is under immense pressure mainly after Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) and MPRF-Democratic decided to end their neutrality and vote for one of the two candidates. Only Dahal of the UCPN-M, who garnered 252 votes during the seventh round of voting, can win the election with support from MPRF-D (28 votes) and MPRF (25 votes). UML´s support is a must for NC to bag the post. UCPN-M alone commands 237 votes in parliament while the NC has 114 seats.
UML lawmakers have been casting their votes in neutral position ever since the first round as the party decided not to vote for any candidate for the formation of majority government. It has said formation of consensus government with support from at least two-thirds majority of the House is essential to deliver peace and constitution.
Meanwhile, the politburo meeting of the party scheduled for Thursday was put off until further notice due to poor health condition of general secretary Ishwar Pokharel.
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