KATHMANDU: The Central Committee meeting today approved 14 autonomous republican states that were proposed by the recent standing committee meeting held earlier, including Narayani to the 13 states the party has already declared.

The latest addition was Narayani Autonomous State — a mixed state comprising Chitwan, Nawalpur section of Nawalparasi and parts of Tanahun.

The five-member State Restructuring Task Force formed by the party under the leadership of standing committee member Dev Gurung to study the issue had proposed six states in the central committee for discussion. The other members of the committee are Lokendra Bista, Hitman Shakya, Gopal Kirati and Biswo Bhakta Dulal ‘Aahuti’. “Central members had mixed reactions on the number of states and advised flexibility on the issue,” said Aahuti.

The task force had proposed Khasan-Jadan Autonomous State comprising Bheri-Karnali, Seti-Mahakali and Bhote Autonomous States; Magarat-Tamuwan Autonomous State comprising Magarat and Tamuwan; Limbuwan-Kirat Atonom-ous State comprising Limbuwan, Sherpa and Kirat states; Newa-Tamsaling Autonomous State with Newa and Tamsaling; Tharuwan Autonomous State and Madhes Autonomous State by uniting Kochila and Madhes states.

“We will submit the list of 14 states in the Committee for the Restructuring of State and Devolution of State Power of the Constituent Assembly but will continue intra and inter-party discussions to find a common ground,” Aahuti said.

The Central Committee meeting will continue tomorrow morning and would discuss the struggle plan for the fourth phase of the Maoist movement.

Maoists have already declared Newa, Tamsaling, Kochila, Sherpa, Bhote-Lama, Bheri-Karnali, Seti-Mahakali, Khasan, Limbuwan, Kirat, Tamuwan, Magarat and Madhes autonomous republican states.

The party leaders have been claiming that the basis for restructuring the State would be nationality instead of ethnicity.