Agreement at UML taskforce level brings cheers to party rank and file

Prakash Silwal
Kathmandu, 12 July (2021) - The declaration of forging consensus by the taskforce of the CPN (UML) to sort out the internal dispute has generated enthusiasm within the ruling party. The taskforce comprises of 'second rung' 10 leaders of the party. 

The taskforce had made public the understanding on Sunday night, putting to an end the concerns that the misunderstanding, differences and sour relations between the party top leaders would lead to a split in the party affecting the prosperity and stability of the nation.

'A Proposal Related to Resolving the Existing Problem' prepared by the taskforce after 'unrelenting and hard work' would be endorsed by the party's standing committee meeting scheduled for today and the central committee meeting on Tuesday.

The understanding at the taskforce level has been widely welcomed, although some individual views have been expressed in connection with interpreting the agreement on moving forward as per the institutional decision and process on the basis of the letter and spirit of the party unity regarding the case related to the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the government.

The social sites and the media have welcomed and commented on the understanding reached by the taskforce.

UML general secretary Ishwor Pokharel has thanked the members of the taskforce, constituted for resolving the problem seen in the party since long, for preparing the 10-point agreement for forging the internal unity.

"This is a very welcome moment in the internal life of the CPN (UML). Now, it is necessary for lifting up the party from a new angle by strengthening the party and its organization. UML will together focus on addressing the problems of the country and the people," the UML general secretary said. 

Party secretary Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai said the agreement was welcome. With the agreement, the party leaders, cadres and members were historically mandated to prove the party best in each sorts of competition by implementing the consensus, further strenghtening the party unity and building the environment of trust.

The agreement decides to take the party before the position of the unification with the CPN (Maoist  Center) to become the Nepal Communist Party on May 16, 2018.

As per the agreement,  all political and institutional activities in contrary to the legal provisions in the aftermath of the  revival of the CPN (UML) following the Supreme Court’s decision and the unification will automatically turn null and void  and the position of the then Maoist Center leader Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal who was welcomed to the party after the Court’s verdict would continue as it is. 

However, party senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has expressed concerns over some interpretations of the agreement. He accused Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s press advisor Surya Bahadur Thapa of misinterpreting the discussions held in the taskforce through the  Facebook post. 

Stating that any statement capable of influencing  the case sub-judice at the court or capable of the contempt of court would not be acceptable, he said the support of 23 CPN(UML) members in the dissolved HoR in regard with the writ petition filed at the Supreme Court would remain as it is. As he said, he was committed to his values and signature. 

On his Facebook post, PM’s press advisor and party central member Thapa claimed that main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC)  President Sher Bahadur Deuba had lost the support of 23 members in the dissolved HoR for the writ filed at the court seeking to appoint him as the Prime Minister of Nepal and was confined to the backing of just 123 members.

The 10-member taskforce was formed based on the agreement between UML chair Oli and senior leader Nepal on May 16. 

Members of the taskforce are deputy leader of the party's parliamentary party Subas Nembang, vice chair Dr Bhim Bahadur Rawal, deputy general secretaries Bishnu Prasad Poudel and Ghana Shyam Bhusal, secretaries Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and Gokarna Raj Bista and standing committee members Surendra Pandey, Shankar Pokharel, Bishnu Rimal and Raghuji Panta. 
Leader Panta is yet to put his signature on the agreement while secretary Bhim Acharya reached the talks venue in Singha Durbar while the meeting was underway.