KATHMANDU, AUG 04 -
The UCPN (Maoist) has plunged into a serious internal dispute over whether to end the ongoing Prime Minister  electoral process or adopt a ‘new course’.

Party Vice Chairman Babu Ram Bhattarai’s faction wants to end the poll process and amend Parliamentary regulations to form a unity government. “A majority government can’t draft the statute or complete the peace process,” said Maoist Politburo member Devendra Poudel. 

For the amendment to the regulations, both Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poduel must withdraw their candidacy.

However, Dahal’s supporters are stressing that he stands to win, what with rifts having cropped up in CPN-UML and the Madhes-based parties.

In Wednesday’s office bearer meeting, Bhattarai stressed on a new course but was turned down by the Dahal faction. “UML wants us to withdraw to pave the way for a consensus government, but it’s irrelevant at this point,” said Maoist Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha. Dahal had the last word, saying there would be no withdrawing. His faction reasons that due to NC’s opposition a consensus government is impossible even if the new course is adopted.

The Bhattarai faction says a unity government is possible if he is put up as the candidate. “NC, UML and foreign forces have said they don’t trust Chairman Dahal due to his performance when he was prime minister,” said a Maoist leader. “They would support Bhattarai.”

The Bhattarai faction is for a “compromise statute “ while Dahal’s faction is for revolt if a ‘Janabadi’ statute is not ensured, said a Maoist politburo member. “It’s a do or die situation — if Bhattarai forms a government, his line will prevail in the party. If he fails Dahal’s line of revolt will prevail leading to Bhattarai’s downfall.”

While the Dahal-Bhattarai cold war will be the prime agenda in the coming “extended meeting” of the party, it’s too early to say if the party will split.

 

Posted on: 2010-08-05 08:29

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