KATHMANDU: The 30-party alliance has averted the danger of break-up, at least for now.

In today’s meeting, Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal assured the alliance partners that he would not desert them until their mission was accomplished.

Miffed at UCPN-M for its decision to withdraw protest programmes recently and UCPN-M’s purported agreement with the ruling parties on the disputed issues of constitution except federalism, Madhesi and Janajati constituents of the 30-party alliance had been doubting UCPN-M intentions. The Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal and Sadbhawana Party had even threatened to quit the alliance.

Sadbhawana Party General Secretary Manish Kumar Suman said constituent partners openly expressed their views that helped reduce their differences and bitterness. According to Suman, SP Chair Rajendra Mahato, MJF-N Chair Upendra Yadav and Chief of Sanghiya Gantantrik Samajwadi Party Parshuram Tamang were expressed their displeasure against Dahal for UCPN-M’s purported deal with the ruling Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML on the disputed issues of constitution.

Mahato told Dahal that if he had any problem carrying the agenda of Madhesis and Janajatis then he should clarify that so that the alliance partners could choose their own way to fight for their cause.

He said the UCPN-M’s decision to withdraw protest programmes and its stance on federalism, which included advocacy for six or nine states, designating five Tarai districts as union territories or settling the issue of five districts through a federal commission created confusion and mistrust among the alliance partners.

Tamang said he told the meeting that Dahal had assured the alliance partners that any deal with the ruling parties would be reached only with the consent of the 30-party alliance but if the UCPN-M had reached an agreement with the ruling parties as reported in the media, then that was a violation of alliance’s norms.

Tamang asked Dahal to form a talks team to hold dialogue with the ruling parties. “After soul searching we all agreed to keep the alliance intact,” Tamang told THT.

Lok Dal Chair Kaushal Kumar Singh said Dahal clarified that he had not reached any agreement with the ruling parties on disputed issues of constitution and if he had to do so, he would certainly seek the consent of the alliance.

Dahal told alliance partners to remain united, as the alliance represented by three major forces — UCPN-M, Madhesis and Janajatis — was recognised by national and international forces.

“If the ruling parties agree to frame the constitution on the basis of consensus, then there will be no problem, otherwise we will have to prepare for an agitation,” Singh quoted Dahal as telling the leaders.

According to Singh, Yadav urged Dahal to stick to nine-point policy of the alliance and Vice-chair of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Hridayesh Tripathi objected to UCPN-M leader Top Bahadur Raymajhi’s recent remarks wherein he said alliance partners were free to leave the alliance.

Today’s meeting of the alliance mandated its task force to prepare the outline of agitation, methods to carry out negotiations with the ruling parties and protest programmes and scheduled the next meeting for April 27.