E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, DEC 25 - In a surprising move, CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, who was expected to propose that three heavyweights in the party--Vice-chairman Bam Dev Gautam and Standing Committee members KP Sharma Oli and Amrit Kumar Bohara--be nominated as Constituent Assembly members, did not do so in Friday's SC meeting.

Khanal, who had earlier made up his mind to propose the leaders for CA membership even by replacing some sitting lawmakers, made no reference to the issue in his 12-point document, though he did raise the issue verbally of promoting Oli as the third highest-ranking party official after the chairman and senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Party insiders privy to the discussion said that Khanal's change in stance was caused partly by the candidates' refusal and partly by objection from the opposition faction in the party.

Except Oli, both Gautam and Bohara have clearly rejected Khanal's offer of CA membership unless the essence of their participation in the Assembly is established. "In my case, I refused to join the CA after our party performed poorly in the 2008 elections," said Bohara, one of the leaders urged to join the CA. "The party should clarify whether or not my presence in the CA affects the peace process."

UML had fielded Bohara as a candidate under the proportional system in the 2008 CA elections but he refused to join the Assembly citing the party's poor show. In Monday's meeting, some SC members, including General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel, Vice-chairman Ashok Rai, Gautam and Bohara were in no mood to join the CA until the party clearly expressed the significance of their being new lawmakers. "The party should convince us that our presence in the CA can contribute to the completion of the peace process and healing intra-party rifts," added Bohara.

In case of Oli and Gautam, party leaders have been suggesting that Khanal not pick them as CA members reasoning that the move would not send a positive message across the party rank and file. Oli and Gautam lost CA elections from Jhapa and Bardiya districts, respectively. Vice-chairman Rai is against the idea of sending some leaders to the CA at the last moment. "The CA term expires in five months. Neither there are vacant posts nor is a by-election going to take place. So the idea of appointing senior leaders as CA members seems impractical," Rai said.

Rai, initially believed to be close to Khanal, is not happy about the proposal to lift Oli to the third place in the party. Senior leader Nepal, Pokharel and Bohara have also been opposing Khanal's proposal to promote Oli. In Friday's meeting, Pokharel suggested that the leadership go through the party statute before promoting Oli as proposed.

The UML statute requires the party to respect its ex-chief as a senior leader. In case Oli is promoted as proposed by Khanal, it will be against the rule. "The statute, endorsed by the party's Butwal convention, does not allow us to nominate two individuals as senior leaders. The party should explain 'scientifically' the need for the promotion," said Bohara.

Immediately after Khanal floated the proposal to 'strengthen internal party unity', leaders were divided over whether to review mistakes committed after the Butwal convention or not. A faction of leaders including Nepal, Pokharel, Bohara and Rai is for reviewing past mistakes while those close to Khanal want focus on the meeting so as to forge "internal unity among senior leaders". The debate has postponed the meeting to December 30.

Posted on: 2011-12-25 12:59

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