UML-Maoist Centre taskforce to start its works from tomorrow

 

BHAKTAPUR: The taskforce formed by the CPN (UML) and the CPN (Maoist Centre) in connection with the National Assembly election, the constitution of the Province Assembly and the province governments is to start its works from tomorrow.

A meeting of the taskforce that was held at UML chairman KP Sharma Oli's residence at Balkot in the presence of Oli and Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' today took a decision to this end following instructions for the same by the two chairpersons.

Maoist Centre leader and a member of the taskforce, Barshaman Pun, who participated in the meeting, said an agreement has been reached in the meeting to start works from tomorrow on the basis of four criteria.

Stating that the meeting held discussions on the modality of the taskforce's works, leader Pun said preliminary discussions were also held regarding the adjustment of the office-bearers of the National Assembly and the Province Assembly. He added that the taskforce would intensively start its works from tomorrow on. He further said the two parties would unite soon, noting the taskforce would be rendered useless if the party unification took place in the meantime.

The taskforce will present a report to the Party Unification Coordination Committee after building a common understanding on issues as common candidates for the National Assembly election, and the constitution of the province governments, the province chief minister and province assembly speaker, after carrying out the necessary home work.

Pun stated that the taskforce has got the mandates as allocating seats keeping in mind the balance between both sides and on the basis of the number of seats and the weightage of the votes both parties garnered in the province assembly and local level elections while taking into account the role various people were capable of playing in the coming days. It also has been mandated to take into account the leadership capacity of the people to effectively run the government and the parliament while allocating seats so as to expedite the unification momentum.

UML leader and taskforce member, Shankar Pokhrel said UML chairman Oli and Maoist Centre chairman Prachanda have directed the taskforce to start its works immediately. He said the two chairmen instructed the taskforce to work with the spirit of party unification taking the weightage of the votes garnered by the two parties in the context of formation of the Province Assembly.

Oli and Dahal held further discussions after the taskforce members exited from the meeting. The taskforce is composed of leaders Subas Nembang, Shankar Pokhrel and Surendra Pandey from the UML and leaders Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal, Barshaman Pun and Matrika Yadav from the Maoist Centre. However, Pandey and Yadav were not present in the today's meeting as they are outside Kathmandu, it is stated.