KATHMANDU: The central committee meeting of the Unified CPN-Maoist failed to decide on expanding the central committee even today.

The task force formed by the party’s standing committee following the unity national gathering of the party under the leadership of general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' had presented the list of proposed 38 central committee members during yesterday's meeting. The members of the task force were Netra Bikram Chand 'Biplav' and Barshaman Pun 'Ananta'.

"The central committee is exploring several angles so as to include the hundreds of dedicated and deserving leaders of the party in the central committee," said Dinanath Sharma, spokesperson for the party.

Other senior leaders of the party claimed that the discussion focused on how the party could recognise the party leaders who had contributed to the party for a long time. While many of the central committee members, who have been working for the party for a long time, have proposed not to expand the CC but instead they were ready to sacrifice their existing position for the sake of the party.

The proposed central committee members include Surya Man Dong, Chitra Bahadur Shrestha, Shalikram Jammarkattel, Lekhnath Neupane, Laxmi Mudbari, Dharmashila Chapagain and Dama Sharma.

The meeting was also delayed because Chairman Dahal went to Nawalparasi to attend Tharu Mahotsav. Dahal had gone there via helicopter to save time for the meeting.

During today's meeting all three vice-chairmen -- Mohan Baidhya 'Kiran', Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha 'Prakash' -- had put forth their views on expanding the central committee to include Agni Sapkota, Janardan Sharma, Amrita Thapa, Dharma Chandra Lawoti, N K Prasai, Apar and Hit Bahadur Tamang.

They also advocated going ahead with the proposed 175 CC members.

Badal had presented the names of the proposed politburo members, including Narayan Dahal, Santosh Budha Magar, Prabhu Sah, Sashi Shrestha, Yashoda Subedi and Jayapuri Gharti.