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UML CC to meet again
KATHMANDU, AUG 09 -
The CPN-UML on Monday decided to resume its Central Committee (CC) meeting on August 11 to discuss issues related to the rounds of prime ministerial election going on in the parliament. The meeting that begun on July 6 was deferred on July 20.
After the UML withdrew the candidacy of Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal before the first round of prime ministerial election after failing to garner an assurance of 401 votes, the faction led by K.P. Oli and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in the party had been pressing Khanal to call the CC meeting to take a decision on voting. UML has been staying neutral. While Khanal has ruled out the possibility of supporting any one to form “another majority government”, the Oli-Nepal faction is for supporting an NC-led majority government to end the stalemate if a consensus government is not possible. Party insiders say Khanal was reluctant to call the CC meet because the Oli-Nepal faction has greater command in the body, meaning a decision to support the NC could be taken, going against Khanal’s stand.
A UML leader said there was no chance of the party deciding to vote for NC against the earlier resolution. A statement issued by Surya Thapa, secretary for the publicity department of the party, said the CC was likely to focus its discussion on addressing the stalemate over the indecisive polls for the top executive post.
The decision to resume the CC meet is viewed with optimism in the political circle in that any decision by the UML not to stay neutral would make next polls decisive.
“The party has already decided to go for a consensus government,” UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokhrel said. “We will discuss the matter further in the CC.” He dismissed the intra-party factions as untrue. “No faction exists within the party,” he added. “The party has always supported a consensus government.”
The CPN-UML has kept everyone guessing after aborting Khanal’s candidacy. Previous CC meeting had given Khanal a nod to field his candidacy provided that he secured the support of 401 lawmakers.
Posted on: 2010-08-10 08:53
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