Kathmandu January 21

The left alliance formed by the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre has decided to give priority to forming the new government and has put party unification on the back burner.

The Party Unification Coordination Committee meeting headed by UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN-MC Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal could not form the two task forces to narrow down ideological differences and sort out issues related to organisational structure of the unified party. The meeting held at Oli’s residence in Bhaktapur today was expected to form two task forces to expedite the party unification process from today itself.

According to CPN-MC leader Matrika Prasad Yadav, who participated in the meeting, task forces will be formed after more consultations between Oli and Dahal. Dahal said yesterday that they had agreed to treat Maoist people’s war and UML’s parliamentary politics as the bases for unification. Oli and Dahal have yet to reach an understanding on the organisational structure of the unified party and may meet tomorrow as well to iron out differences, said Yadav.

PUCC formed a task force to work on the new government’s policy and programmes.

The seven-member task force is headed by UML Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam and includes Bhim Rawal, Bijay Poudel, former vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission Yubraj Khatiwada, former finance minister Barshaman Pun, former health minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel and former NPC vice-chairman Min Bahadur Shrestha. The task force is mandated to give suggestions on good governance and development as pledged by the left alliance in its election manifesto.

The alliance had given the slogan of stability, good governance and economic growth in its election manifesto. In their joint manifesto, the two parties had pledged to boost the country’s per capita income to $5,000 within a decade.

PUCC also endorsed the report submitted by the task force formed for recommending candidates for the National Assembly election. The CPN-UML will field 29 candidates -- 11 women, five Dalits, three from minority communities or differently-abled persons, besides 10 in the open category -- and the CPN-MC 14 -- four women, four from minority communities or differently-abled persons, besides five in the open category.

The NA election is slated for February 7. The EC released the voter list for the same today.

(UPDATED)

UML, CPN-MC to endorse task force report on NA elections

BHAKTAPUR: A meeting of Party Unification Coordination Committee of CPN-UML and CPN Maoist Centre held on Sunday has decided to endorse and implement the draft on National Assembly elections presented by the task force.

The meeting held at CPN UML Chair KP Oli’s Balkot residence has taken a decision to this effect.

According to Coordination Committee Member and Maoist Centre leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the meeting has also agreed to form a new task force to begin homework on agendas pertaining to development and prosperity as mentioned in the election manifesto of the left alliance circulated during the recently held Parliamentary and Provincial elections.

The new task force will be led by CPN-UML Vice Chair Bamdev Gautam and has seven members including Giri Rajmani Pokharel, Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Barsa Man Pun, Bijay Poudel, Yubaraj Khatiwada and Min Bahadur Shrestha.

Moreover, the parties have agreed to hold further discussions and carry out necessary homework pertaining to ideological and organisational aspects before unification by forming another task force.