Hardliners at a loss over future course
With their political document failing to cajole the crucial moderates and others in the party’s central committee, which was postponed on Saturday, the hard-line faction of the UCPN (Maoist) led by Mohan Baidya seems to have been at a loss over their future course of action.
The hardliners’ newfound dilemma, in effect, is likely to prolong the status quo in the Maoist party.
The Baidya camp had believed that once they raised the “hot” issues, such as return of the seized properties, people’s war, combatants’ problems, financial irregularities, BIPPA, and scientific land reforms, their position would be strong in the Central Committee (CC) meeting that ran for four days. They had hoped that they would be able to gain full support of over two dozen “moderates” in the CC led by Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who has been a kingmaker in the party’s politics. Baidya had also hoped to take into confidence some leaders from factions led by Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.
Despite close connection with hard-line leader and Party General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa, Shrestha supported Dahal’s political line of peace and constitution. In the 146-member CC, the hardliners have support of 45 CC members. Until Friday, over 50 leaders spoke in the CC but only 18 of them supported Baidya’s document.
The hardliners too admit their failure. “We failed to strengthen our position in the CC as leaders from the Bhattarai and Shreshta factions are fully backing Dahal’s document,” said a Baidya loyal. Before preparing his document, Dahal held several rounds of consultations with Bhattarai and Shrestha in a bid to take them on board at the CC. Dahal even reached Shrestha’s residence to take him into confidence.
Though the hardliners concede their position in the CC has been week, they argue that their ideology would be dominant in the long run. “In politics, ideology and scientific policy matter, not numbers,” said Politburo member Khadka Bahadur Bishwokarma. He threatened that Dahal would face adverse situation if he tried to move ahead on a majority basis.
In order to bolster the position, the faction is likely to backtrack from its plan to split the party immediately and wait until the general convention. A faction requires support of 40 percent of lawmakers in the parliament to split the party, which seems hard for the hardliners. Thapa and Standing Committee member Netra Bikram Chand-led faction wants to split the party immediately though they do not have the support of 40 percent of lawmakers.
Though Thapa threatened to split party in the CC, he has very weak command in the party’s organisation. Chand and Thapa want immediate preparation to split the party, while Baidya and Secretary CP Gajurel are in a wait and watch mood.
Posted on: 2012-01-01 08:12
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