KATHMANDU: Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli, and CPN-MC Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal today assured fellow leaders, cadres and followers that their parties would surely unite. Addressing a programme organised to mark Vladimir Lenin’s birth anniversary and establishment of Nepal Communist Party, CPN-MC Chair Dahal said they could not announce their unification today as they needed to resolve technical and policy issues but they would surprise everyone by announcing their unification any day. Dahal said forces within and outside the country were trying to derail their unification bid but the two parties were committed to unity. Dahal said he had reached understanding with UML Chair Oli to unify their parties on the basis of the principle of equality. “We have agreed to unify our parties in a way that would ensure win-win deal for both sides and no side will feel humiliated,” Dahal said. He added that the unified party would achieve the goals of socialism through competitive democratic politics. “We are in a position to achieve the goals of socialism on the basis of our parliamentary strength. We are being watched by our people, as well as peoples of the world. We cannot err on unity,” he added. Dahal said the UML and the CPN-MC showed strength, courage and wisdom in promulgating the constitution and implementing it. He said his party clashed with UML on many issues but both parties should learn lessons from the past and unite. Prime Minister and UML Chair KP Sharma Oli said there was nothing that could stall unification between the two parties. “We are going to unite in the near future,” he added. He said reactionary forces always benefited from division and fragmentation of the left forces, but they would not let that happen again. Oli said both the parties had similar views on the socio-political and development agenda, foreign policy and international issues. “We want to pursue our independent policy. We want to benefit from the prosperity of our neighbours. We won’t let our soil be used against any of our neighbours,” Oli said and added that the two parties wanted to strengthen national unity and defeat any attempt that could disrupt communal harmony. In an oblique reference to Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s remarks that totalitarianism had already started in the country and journalists were being silenced by the government, Oli wondered, “How can a leader undermine journalists?” He said the communist government would ensure transparency and remain committed to federal republican order, competitive democracy, independent judiciary and an accountable government. READ ALSO:

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(UPDATED) 'In no position to step back from unification' KATHMANDU: Chairmen of both CPN-UML and CPN Maoist Centre have reiterated that they are not in a position to step back from the party unification. Speaking during a joint programme organised to mark the Leninn Jayanti and 69th establishment day of Nepal Communist Party today at City Hall, Kathmandu, Prime Minister and UML Chair KP Sharma Oli and Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal remarked that they do not have alternatives to concluding unification. Addressing the programme, Chairman Dahal said that the declaration of party unification would be announced on an unspecified date. “We are facing heavy pressure from voters and communist cadres so we cannot turn back from the party unification. We have not yet finalised the date for unification unlike reports on media suggest. We will announce unification on an unspecified date,” said Dahal. He also said that the unification would be carried out on the basis of equality, respect and righteousness. Likewise, PM Oli said that the leaders of the both parties had done enough hard work to decide on party unification while adding that it was impossible to step back from. “We all have invested our time heavily into this so we have no other option than concluding the unification successfully,” stated PM Oli. Similarly, PM Oli also expressed his hope that the merger of two parties would benefit the country. “Our (UML and Maoist Centre) initiation was the key behind promulgation of constitution and now the unified party will work on the prosperity and economic development of the country,” said the Prime Minister.