Kathmandu, April 28

The Standing Committee meeting of the ruling Unified CPN-Maoist that kicked off here today started discussion on party unity, peace process, implementation of constitution and the government.

Discussion among top leaders of the most important coalition partner of the KP Sharma Oli-led government signifies that all is not well for PM Oli’s government.

According to standing committee member Gopal Kirati, all the standing committee members put forth their opinions, except Agriculture Minister Haribol Gajurel, Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, General Secretary Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

He said for the first time the issue of the government was introduced for formal discussion in the standing committee meeting as previous meetings had only discussed the functions of the government.

During today’s meeting standing committee members put forth their views on changing the government in support of the opinion raised by standing committee member Gopal Kirati, who has been urging the party to withdraw support to the UML-led government.

He was for forming a consensus government under the leadership of party Chairman Dahal.

Addressing the meeting, Home Minister Shakti Basnet said it would be difficult for the party to tackle the increasing attacks on Maoist parties and leaders if the party backed off from the government.

Leaders had questioned Chairman Dahal whether the party had talked to PM Oli regarding violation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the peace process.

On party unity, Chairman of the Discipline Committee of the party Amik Sherchan said CPN-Revolutionary Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidhya had urged discussions on the causes behind the party’s split and now the relevance of unity.

The meeting will continue from 8:00am tomorrow at the Lazimpat based residence of Chairman Dahal.

CPN-RM on the verge of split

KATHMANDU: With the absence of CPN-Revolutionary Maoist leader Mohan Baidhya in the meeting organised here on Wednesday to discuss party unity, General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa is preparing to pressure Baidhya to call the central committee meeting.

As Thapa holds majority in the central committee, Baidhya had postponed the meeting for one month. Sources claimed that Thapa is preparing to endorse the proposal of party unity with the UCPN-M by calling a meeting of the central committee himself if Baidhya refuses to do so and to begin the unification process.

Though there have been massive efforts to go for party unity along with Baidhya’s faction by UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-RM General Secretary Thapa they have failed to appease Baidhya.