Continuous coercion to implement past agreement: NCP Chairs dissonant

KATHMANDU, Oct 22: Former Prime Minister and ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal has accused the Co-Chair and current Prime Minister K.P.Sharma Oli of backtracking on an agreement of sharing the PM’s post for 2.5 years each. The relationship between the two chairs of the ruling party is close to the edge and it is imminently seen that the relationship may further deteriorate.

Former PM Dahal has publicly opined that PM Oli now wants to be in the post for a full term and that it was against what was decided before the merger of both parties. This matter was also discussed between PM Oli’s confidante Ishwor Pokharel in his residence whom the former PM Dahal had gone to meet and express his grave dissatisfaction. The leaders close to Prachanda are also discontent with the current situation.

Former PM Dahal had said that even if PM Oli wants to be the PM for a full term, he should be the sole Chairman of the NCP, and if there was an agreement to this regard then there would not be any disputes or hurdles. But PM Oli is not budging on either of the two and that he is strong-willed to disallow former PM Dahal to have either way.

The two Chairs had discussed this issue for over three hours a few days back. According to a close political aide of the former PM Dahal, Mani Thapa has stated that “there was an agreement for sharing the PM’s post equally, and hence the former PM now is now insisting Chair Oli comply with what was agreed to before”.