Prachanda loyalist dominate district conclave

KATHMANDU: Some of the UCPN Maoist bigwigs have failed to make it as the representative to the central committee in the party’s district conclave.
The election organized to elect representatives for the party’s national conclave slated for May 1, concluded by defeating most of the bigwigs that are mostly party Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai’s favourites.
Among these names, one is that of Sameer Dahal, former Personal Secretary and nephew of party chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal. Others to join him on the list are Khim Lal Devkota, Sabnam Saathi, Ganga Belbasey, Sabina Aryal, Sarita Maharjan. Along with them, Dr. Dilliraj Khanal, who had entered the party after deflecting from CPN UML, has also been defeated in the election, held in Kapan on Sunday evening.
Similary UCPN Maoist Central Advisory Board’s Chairman N K Prasai, lawmaker J B Tuhurey, Khemraj Bhatta ‘Mayalu”, Dr. Chandra Kant Paudel, Kaladhar Devkota, Sunil Kumar Paudel, Rajbhai Jakmi, Padam Khadka, Dev Bahadur Paudel, Jay Bahadur Karki, Gopal Siwakoti, among others lost the elections.
Members who were elected include Dahal’s daughter Renu Dahal, Central Committe member Lila Mani Pokhrel, Devendra Paudel, Hisila Yami, labour union leader Salikram Jamarkattel, ANNIFSU Chairman Himal Sharma, leader Ramesh Malla, Anjana Bisankhey, Lucky Sherpa, Dilip Maharjan, Rupa Maharjan, Shiva Koirala, Sarbottam Dangol, Chandra Thapa Sagar, D B Tamang, Balabati Sharma, Shashi Shrestha Jagat Sinkhada, Ganesh Regmi, Mukti Pradhan, Raman Shrestha, Prakash GM, Govinda Batala, Mahendra Shrestha are among the 58 members elected. Along with that 57 district members were nominated through consensus.
43 of these delegates elected are said to be Prachanda loyalist, 11 to Bhattarai, and four to another party vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha. Similarly, out of 57 nominated as district committee members, 42 candidates are close to Dahal. While nine candidates represent Bhattarai’s faction, five are loyal to Shrestha.