Chitwan, March 25

Senior Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leader and former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has opined that the party committee should have a say on matters of the government and the party rather than the two party chairpersons.

“Ours is a party that in principle runs on collective leadership, so there is no way a person or two have the say in the running the party and the government,” said the senior NCP leader, speaking to journalists at Bharatpur airport today. Further, Nepal expressed his concern about the lack of discussion inside the party prior to the government decision to ban the activities of Communist Party of Nepal led by Netra Bikram Chand.

“As for the government decision to ban the party, I learnt about it from newspapers, which is unfortunate,” said the leader, who, upon being questioned by media persons, however, justified the government decision to ban the party, saying the government action was called for.

“The state is not a helpless entity. It can’t keep mum even when someone challenges it,” he said.

Nepal also hailed the government for successfully bringing CK Raut into mainstream politics. “It’s a positive thing that the government has been able to bring around a person who had openly professed separatism to joining mainstream politics,” he said.

When asked about the possibility of a reshuffle in the government, Nepal said there were no discussions whatsoever regarding changes in the government, in the party. On matters related to party unity, Nepal opined that unity-related matters should be finalised before April 22, the day when the party came into being.