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| Jhankar Budha Magar |
KIRAN PUN The party´s topmost cultural group, which currently has 32 members, has said the party establishment is no longer funding their living expenses in Kathmandu. The reason? The Parivar members do not pay paeans to Dahal anymore. |
| THIRA L BHUSAL / KIRAN PUN Maoist leaders came to this stance during a party office bearers´ meeting held at party headquarters, Parisdanda on Friday. "The standing committee meeting tomorrow (Saturday) will take a bold decision to this effect if the prime minister does not induct new ministers from our party by tomorrow morning," Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel told Republica. Asked what that decision could be, he said, "We are pondering various options and will disclose it only after the party takes a decision on the matter." |
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| नायिका करिश्मा मानन्धर |
| POST B BASNET & KIRAN PUN  It was surprising because Baidya and Bhattarai float contrasting political lines and these two ideologues underwent strained relationships through much of the party history as each tried to get his line prevailed in the party. |
जनक केसी, जाजरकोट, साउन ९ - नेपालको कानुनले विवाहका लागि केटाको हकमा २० वर्ष उमेर तोकेको छ। तर, १८ वर्ष मात्र पुगेका झाप्रा-१, फुम्नाका बमबहादुर वादीका पत्नी नै ५ वटी छन्। १३ वर्षको उमेरमा ७ कक्षामा पढ्दापढ्दै पहिलो विवाह गरे उनले। त्यसपछि पढ्न पनि छोडिदिए । त्यो २०६३ सालको कुरा हो। पहिलो पत्नी संगीता वादी अहिले १८ वर्षकी मात्र भइन्। ५ वर्षको अवधिमै उनले थप ४ पत्नी ल्याए। 
| POST B BASNET/KIRAN PUN This ends a protracted tussle for power and differences over the party´s tactical line -- at least for now. But, will Dahal press the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML to support his arch rival Bhattarai to become prime minister in a national consensus government? Party leaders say the success of the peace process hinges on the sincerity of the party chairman in implementing the deal, and they have reason to believe Dahal would not renege on the party decision. |
| KIRAN PUN The party has named Shrestha the deputy prime minister and minister for home, a position currently held by party leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara. “It is only temporary arrangement. We will keep pressurizing other parties for the formation of a national consensus government as per the five-point deal,” Shrestha told Republica. The CPN (Unity Centre-Masal) led by Shrestha merged with the Maoist party after the CA elections in 2008, and Shrestha was subsequently appointed the vice-chairman of the UCPN (Maoist). |
| POST B BASNET / KIRAN PUN As per the decision taken by the party central committee (CC) meeting on Saturday, Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai would take charge of the party´s parliamentary board, Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya would be the chief of the party organizational department and disciplinary commission, and General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa would be the party´s military in-charge and chief of the party central office. Senior leaders of the party finalized the new power arrangement. |
| KIRAN PUN At a meeting of party office bearers held at his residence at Naya Bazar Friday evening, Dahal proposed that the party, military and political fronts be led by different leaders. “The essence of his proposal is he would continue to lead the party, General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa would lead the military, and Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai would be given leadership of parliamentary party board,” said a top Maoist leader. Dahal also promised to activate the near-defunct role of party Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya as chief of the party´s organization and disciplinary committee. |
| KIRAN PUN “The party´s name-list for cabinet berths that was released on Tuesday is false. Nothing has been settled as yet. The list was released without any decision in the party,” said party leader Netra Bikram Chand who is close to Baidya. The list stated that party Secretary Posta Bahadur Bogati would lead the home ministry and Dev Gurung Ministry for Physical Planning and Works. But Baidya has vociferously demanded that the party give the home ministry to Gurung from his faction and not Bogati who is close to Dahal. Party Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha, who has been proposed the deputy prime minister, has stated that he would not join the government if he is not given charge of the home ministry. Similarly, Bhattarai faction in its list submitted to Dahal had proposed replacing the incumbent Minister for Physical Planning and Works Top Bahadur Rayamajhi. But Dahal´s list doesn´t include Rayamajhi´s name. |
| KIRAN PUN “We are currently discussing the list of leaders submitted by each of the three factions for ministerial berths,” said Maoist leader Devendra Poudel, who is close to Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai. The task of settling intra-party power sharing in the government is tricky as both the party establishment and the hard-line faction led by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya have staked claim to the home ministry. |
| POST B BASNET/KIRAN PUN “The leaders are yet to finalize the deal, but it is almost sure that they would settle the issues by Monday morning and announce the decisions of the central committee (CC) meeting on Monday afternoon,” said a senior Maoist leader requesting anonymity. The alliance forged by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and Bhattarai had demanded that Dahal share the party leadership with other leaders making Bhattarai the party leader in both parliament and government, and Baidya the chief of the party organization. According to sources, the assurance that he would be made prime minister if the party gets a chance to lead the government is likely to satisfy Bhattarai. “Shrestha, without whose support the alliance would not have a majority, did not back Bhattarai to immediately replace the chairman as the party leader in parliament. So he had to step back,” said the party leader. |
| POST B BASNET/KIRAN PUN But the leaders from the alliance forged by vice-chairmen duo Mohan Baidya and Dr Baburam Bhattarai has so far rejected Dahal´s proposal, terming it his ploy to wait for an opportune time to break the alliance. Dahal had put forward the proposal during a meeting of party leaders, including Baidya. “His argument is that resigning from the post under pressure from rival factions would send negative messages that he has been rendered weak. We don´t buy that idea, but we are still holding talks,” said a senior leader close to Bhattarai. Baidya confirmed that the alliance has received such an offer. “That option has been floated. In fact, we are also holding talks on various other options,” said Baidya. Leaders from the alliance have stated that Dahal is adept at using different trump cards and accepting his offer would be self-defeating. |
POST B BASNET/KIRAN PUN While Chairman Dahal is preparing to table a political document on the party´s course in the peace process, Baidya and Bhattarai plan to block any discussion on that document prior to settling the issue of power-sharing in the party. The Dahal faction has stated that the issue of internal work division can be settled once the party unambiguously endorses an action plan for the peace process, but this has been vehemently opposed by Baidya and Bhattarai. “The chairman is wrong to reckon on breaking the alliance by discussing the party´s work plan for the peace process. We are in a majority and we will block the discussions,” said one party leader close to Bhattarai. |
