Ishwar Khanal

Kathmandu, June 23:

The wranglings in the RPP may lead to a party split if the peace-making bid by its president Pashupati SJB Rana does not succeed. A senior leader of the RPP said today that there were chances of split in the party if the party leadership does not "seriously consider" the grievances pressed by the dissidents, even as RPP spokesperson, Rosan Karki, ruled out the possibility of a split. While a source close to ex-prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa conceded that a new outfit could be launched pretty soon (within next week)," spokesperson Roshan Karki ruled out a split, arguing that party president Pashupati SJB Rana was busy convincing the leaders of the Thapa camp. Leaders close to Thapa, however, say that there is no turning back since they have already contacted all the district units of the RPP in connection with launching a party.

Meanwhile, party president Rana is busy with a series of meetings with the ministers in the Thapa cabinet. In a luncheon with former minister Kamal Thapa today at his residence, Rana is said to have assured Thapa that he would try to resolve the existing disparities. According to party spokesperson Karki, Thapa had also suggested Rana to include the dissendents in the parliamentary committees. The ploy could be a medium to bargain for a few cabinet seats in the Deuba government. Rana also held talks with party leaders Hari Bahadur Basnet and Sarbendra Nath Shukla today. Rana is scheduled to meet RPP leader Rabindra Nath Sharma and former minister Buddhi Man Tamang tomorrow.