UML top body wants Pokharel to amend work division proposal

KATHMANDU, March 24: A standing committee meeting of the CPN-UML that was scheduled to endorse the proposal of work division of the central level leaders couldn't do so Monday as leaders strongly opposed the proposal floated by General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel at the meeting.

Following objection by leaders, the meeting suggested to the general secretary to make changes to the proposal based on the views expressed at the meeting held at UML Chairman KP Oli's residence at *Balkot on Monday and come up with revised proposal at the top body's meeting on Tuesday at the Oli residence.

Most of the standing committee members from Madhav Nepal-led faction vehemently opposed the proposal saying that Pokharel included only those close to party establishment in the work division while excluding all other leaders in a biased way.

"The proposal of work division couldn't be endorsed today as it included only a section of leaders in the work division while sidelining others," Deputy General Secretary Ghanashyam Bhusal of Nepal panel told Republica. "Now, the proposal will be endorsed only if it is prepared as per the suggestions offered at today's meeting."

Party secretary Prithvi Subba Gurung, who is from Oli camp, said the proposal will get endorsed from the meeting on Tuesday.

Gurung said the general secretary will also consult top leaders and other concerned ones before finalizing the proposal.

Leaders said the establishment side had to give in as even Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam, who is from Oli panel, wasn't convinced by Pokharel's proposal and stood for amending it.

The UML leadership has failed to make work division for party's office bearers and members of standing committee, politburo and central committee even as it has been 10 months since the party elected new leadership from the general convention last year. The top leadership failed to assign tasks as the intraparty factional feud deepened in the recent days and the proposal prepared by the establishment was rejected by the rival faction led by former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who was defeated by Oli for the post of party chairperson.

The rivalry between the two camps in the party has intensified in the recent days.

Nepal has been boycotting standing committee meetings as they were held at the chairman's residence. He has demanded that party's formal meetings must be held at party office or they should be deferred until the chairman recuperates from the illness.

Related story

Desperate search for missing girls as nearly 80 dead in Texas f...

*Balkot