UCPN (Maoist) calls extended meeting for July 19

KIRAN PUN
KATHMANDU, July 1: After efforts to persuade Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai into withdrawing his resignation failed, the ongoing central committee meeting of the UCPN (Maoist) on Sunday decided to call an extended meeting of the party for July 19.

The meeting has been called to resolve the row over appointment of office bearers and members in CC, standing committee and the politburo. The party has called an extended meeting five months after the Hetauda general convention. The general convention had left the task of giving full shape to CC pending but the party has not been able to accomplish the task so far.
Bhattarai had announced his resignation as party vice- chairman during the central committee meeting on Saturday. The dispute over nomination of leaders for the top posts of the party has taken a new turn following Bhattarai´s resignation.

“We have called an extended meeting for positive discussions and also to seek a solution,” said Barshaman Pun, who has been proposed for the post of party secretary. According to Pun, the top leadership has discussed the problem. “We decided to call an extended meeting just to make sure that the decisions are taken in a democratic manner,” said Pun.

“We will discuss all the issues. We will either accept Bhattarai´s resignation or reject Bhattarai´s proposal through the extended meeting,” added Pun. At the meeting on Sunday, Dahal admitted that he had made mistakes in proposing names of office bearers, standing committee, politburo and central committee members.

Bhattarai during the CC meeting said he was present at the meeting not as the vice chairman but as a party member. “The young generation should be happy,” newly proposed politburo member Dor Prasad Upadhyay quoted Bhattarai as saying.

According to Upadhyay, the leaders will dwell on the organizational debate in line with the political line established by the Hetauda general convention. The party has already transformed into a parliamentary party through the Hetauda convention.

The central committee members have strongly criticized the names proposed by Dahal. Former People´s Liberation Army commanders, who are in the party central committee, had boycotted the meeting expressing disagreement with Dahal´s proposal.

Chiefs of district committees, chiefs of sister wings and central committee members of the party will participate in the extended meeting. According to Pun, the meeting would be attended by around 450 to 500 participants.
from Republica