Meeting delays frustrate ruling party leaders

Kathmandu, 18-11-2018 . We’re waiting for the leaders to hold the meetings soon. We also know what to do if the meetings are delayed further Narayan Kaji Shrestha, NCP Spokesperson 

Nov 18, 2018-As the ruling party leadership adopts a “delaying tactic”, Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leaders have warned against further delays in holding key meetings. 

Some leaders have even said they would be forced to start a signature campaign to press the leadership to hold the meetings of the secretariat and the Standing Committee at the earliest.In the absence of discussions and meetings to address growing discontent within the party, leaders are increasingly frustrated at the leadership. 

null

“Leaders have long been demanding a meeting of the Standing Committee—not that of the secretariat,” said Mani Thapa, a standing committee member. 

Most of the leaders, excepting those close to Co-chair KP Sharma Oli, have expressed serious concerns over the delay. After abrupt postponement of the Standing Committee meeting scheduled for October 29-30, Yogesh Bhattarai vented his frustration on Facebook. 

“We’re waiting for the leaders to hold the meetings soon. We also know what to do if the meetings are delayed further,” said party Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha. 

Leaders who are vocal against the party secretariat’s key decisions are also dissatisfied with the government’s latest decisions. According to sources, 

Prime Minister Oli did not consult with party colleagues while nominating officials including the ambassadors. 

Leaders including Shrestha said they were not consulted while recommending new ambassadors. Leaders also wanted to discuss in the party the government’s controversial decisions that could tarnish the party’s image. Of late, they are against the government’s decision to delay publication of the Cabinet’s decisions. 

“PM Oli had said he would talk on the appointments, to no avail,” said Shrestha. Sources, however, claimed that PM Oli had consulted with top leaders including Madhav Nepal besides Co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal before naming some ambassadors. 

The NCP statute requires the Standing Committee to meet every three months but it’s more than four months since it last met. PM Oli’s health condition is said to be one of the reasons behind the delay. Some leaders believe that factional interests are creating problems for the leadership to conclude the merger of the lower committees and the unified party’s sister wings. 

“The Standing Committee meeting could be delayed until the two leaders find ways to manage the conflict,” said Gajurel. Following mounting pressure, Oli and Dahal are working to call a secretariat meeting soon. While Central Committee member Bishnu Rijal said the party was preparing to schedule the meeting for November 22, Spokesperson Shrestha said he was not aware of the developments.