Allocating premiership and party leadership between Oli and Dahal basis for party merger: Bhusal

KATHMANDU, Jan 6: Despite some progresses over the power sharing deal between the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center), speculation over the merger process is growing since the left alliance constituents are failing to materialize the unity before the formation of a new government.

The two parties have already reached an agreement to form coalition government in six provinces. And discussions on power sharing in new government and key constitutional bodies are underway. But the merger process, which was expected to reach a conclusion before the new government, seems to be going no further as the second-rung leaders of both parties are fixated over the post ‘chairperson’ of the new united entity.

Maoist Center leaders have claimed that if KP Oli becomes the prime minister of the new government, the party chair should be given to Pushpa Kamal Dahal, which UML second-rung leaders seem hard to make peace with.

But, Maoist Center Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal claimed that the unity talks would reach a conclusion at any cost. Talking to Rishi Dhamala at ‘Nepali Bahas’ on Monday, Bhusal denied the reports that the unity process has failed.

“The merger has to be finalized in view of a totally new ideology and new organizational structure. We are repeatedly holding talks formally and informally. Efforts from both sides are underway. The unity process expects more and deep discussions,” he said.

“Both party chairs are holding discussions over various alternatives to find consensus over the party leadership role after the merger. But UML leaders are not agreeing on allocating ‘party leadership’ and ‘prime minister’ one for each party,” she added.

“Since the merger process is approved by the people, it should be finalized in any circumstances,” she furthered.

“It is not UML merging into Maoist Center or vice-versa. So the unification should be respectable. Both the parties have different ideological background. Thus, a careful measure is being worked out for concluding the merger.”

Bhusal furthered that Maoist Center agreed on Oli taking the premiership of new government as UML is the largest party. But “Oli cannot be the united party’s chair,” she clarified.

She was of the view that allocating prime minister and party chair, one each to either Oli or Dahal is the base to materialize the unification bid.