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Dahal ‘tested,’ Bhattarai to get a chance?
KATHMANDU, JUN 08 -
Despite the rhetoric that the UCPN (Maoist) is yet to hold discussions to pick the prime ministerial candidate if it gets an opportunity to lead the new national consensus government, the issue has begun to hot up in the party.
While Vice Chairman Babu Ram Bhattarai is preparing grounds inside and outside the party to garner support for prime ministerial berth, a hardliner faction led by senior Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya is trying its best to sabotage Bhattarai’s attempt. Standing Committee (SC) members Barsa Man Pun, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Giriraj Mani Pokhrel have publicly spoken in favour of Bhattarai stating that Dahal has already been tested. On the other hand, leaders like Baidya and Post Bahadur Bogati are openly pitching for Dahal.
Dahal has neither denied the post nor rooted for Bhattarai although he said publicly some weeks ago that alternatives are “open”.
Nepali Congress and UML-UML as well as the international community would support Bhattarai as the next prime minister, but as some Maoist leaders said, it seems very hard for him to garner support from his own party. So, the sources said, Bhattarai would fight inside the party to become the prime minister.
“Bhattarai has not expressed his desire. I don’t think it would be a big issue,” Vice Chair Baidya said adding that the party has not changed its “earlier decision” to let Dahal lead the government.
On the other hand, politburo member Devendra Poudel said there had been informal discussions inside the party about Dahal’s alternatives, which is “obviously” Bhattarai. “It is clear that Bhattarai is a capable leader in the party who can handle the government after Chairman Dahal,” said Poudel.
A SC member close to the leader said Bhattarai is the only alternative to Dahal. After Dahal there are three vice chairmen: Baidya, Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha. “Senior Vice Chairman Baidya will not compete for the post due to his poor health and his low profile at national and international level and Shrestha joined the party only two years ago. So Bhattarai will come to the fore,” said a SC member.
Bhattarai-led faction believes that Dahal would support other parties to form the government if he fails to become the prime minister. “Dahal will support other parties instead of giving Bhattarai a chance,” said an SC member.
REMARKS over new pm berth
Jan 4: Dahal said India has been proposing Bhattarai for next PM
Jan 6: Standing Committee meeting reiterated Dahal would lead
May 11: SC decided to keep open Dahal’s alternative
June 6: Dahal said NC demanded leadership of the new government
Posted on: 2010-06-09 07:27
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