Kathmandu, April 27

CPN-Maoist Centre Chair Puhspa Kamal Dahal today held one-on-one discussion with Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli on the disputed issues of unification.

Neither side said anything about the progress of the meeting between the two top leaders.

Dahal’s aide Bishnu Sapkota said the meeting between the two leaders would continue. When asked if there was any progress in the meeting today, he said, “When there is an announcement of progress, then there is real progress but as of today, no such announcement has been made,” he said and added that the two leaders would continue to discuss issues that are yet to be resolved between the two parties.

The CPN-UML and the CPN-MC have not resolved three key issues yet — what should be the election symbol of the unified party, what will be the ratio or representation in the Central Committee and other structures of the party and whether or not the word ‘people’s war’ should be mentioned in the preamble of the unified party’s statute.

CPN-MC Secretariat member Mani Thapa said the issues of power sharing between PM Oli and the CPN-MC Chair Dahal were proving to be the sticking point. “Earlier, it was a different thing, now our party Chair is of the view that if PM Oli wants to be the prime minister for a full term then he (Dahal) should be the party chair for a full five-year term,” Thapa said and added that PM Oli’s unilateral style of functioning had angered Dahal.

“Dahal is unhappy with PM Oli as he took a unilateral decision to transfer government secretaries. In recent weeks, PM Oli did not consult Dahal on national issues,”said Thapa.  Thapa also said that CPN-MC Chair Dahal wanted to unify the two parties on the basis of 50/50 ratio of representation in the party’s top structures.