Kathmandu, September 27:

Nepali Congress (NC) leader and political analyst, Pradip Giri, said today that the unification of the party was a mechanical one and that there is yet to be a political union.

Addressing a programme at the Reporters’ Club, Giri said, “The unification of the NC party was a mechanical one and was made considering the November 22 constituent assembly polls. The party has not united politically.”

He said the resignation submitted by senior party leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai would have little impact on the party.

Though Bhattarai does not compromise on anything, his resignation will not lessen his height, he said. “Bhattarai is in minority in the party,” Giri said, while addressing a function at the Reporters’ Club today.

He also conceded that Bhattarai, in a letter written to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala last week, had challenged PM Koirala to prove his view that the country’s sovereignty was at stake.

It should be noted that two weeks back Koirala, in a meeting with some journalists, had said the country’s sovereignty was at stake.

Giri, who is widely considered a political scientist, said the parliament can make a political announcement by declaring the country a republic. This view, however, does not go with the party line.

Meanwhile, leaders and civil society members today termed the unification of NC and its decision to go for republic set-up as positive saying that this decision would help to resolve the crisis facing the country.

CPN-Maoist leader C P Gajurel said NC’s decision to go for a republican set-up has made it certain that the country would definitely go for a republic.

Civil society member Sunder Mani Dixit, however, raised suspicion saying, “I am still not convinced that the NC would go for a republic.” Dixit said the NC should not in any way withdraw the Mahasamiti decision.

CPN-UML leader Raghuji Pant termed the unification as positive.