Kathmandu December 27

The CPN-Maoist Centre is preparing to present a proposal whereby the party’s unification with the CPN-UML will proceed only if the CPN-MC gets one of the two crucial posts — the prime minister or the chairman of the unified party.

The CPN-MC is planning to put forth its stand during the Party Unification Coordination Committee meeting likely to be convened tomorrow.

CPN-MC Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli are also scheduled to hold a one-on-one meeting ahead of the committee’s meeting.

CPN-MC leaders have reached an understanding that they would not proceed with party unification process if the party did not get one of the two crucial posts. This morning Dahal held consultations on the matter with senior party leaders Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Ram Bahadur Thapa.

“Since the UML is a bigger party in the left alliance, we’ll let them choose one of the two top posts,” CPN-MC leader Devendra Poudel told The Himalayan Times. “If we go for unification without getting one of the two posts, it will mean that the UML is acquiring the CPN-MC, not merging with it. We cannot do so as per our mandate.”

According to Poudel, the two parties could exchange the posts after a few years — if the CPN-MC gets the post of PM after, say two years, the UML can keep the post of party chair.

Earlier today, Poudel met UML leaders, including Yogesh Bhattarai and Rabindra Adhikari, to ‘create conducive environment’ for party unification. “Discussions were concentrated on creating a win-win situation,” he said.  Meanwhile, Oli and Dahal today discussed issues related to political document and organisational structure of the unified party, according to Narayan Kaji Shrestha. “The two leaders have reached an understanding that unification process is challenging and they should reach a conclusion at the earliest,” Shrestha told THT.

According to a UML leader, Oli and Dahal also discussed roles and responsibilities to be assigned to leaders of both the parties.

They also dwelt on the National Assembly Election Ordinance and formation of the new government. According to secretariats of the two leaders, they were of the view that the incumbent government should pave the way for formation of the new government, while the Election Commission should work to create conducive environment for government formation.