KATHMANDU, May 21: Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leader Jhala Nath Khanal said that he is disappointed with the new hierarchy of the leaders in the newly formed party.

“I am not happy with the rank distribution,” Khanal vented ire, who has been demoted to fourth rank in the party.

“I have been placed below Madhav Kumar Nepal, which is not acceptable,” he added.

Following the merger, NCP made changes in the seating arrangement in the House in terms of seniority. Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ held the seat of party’s senior most leader, taking the number one seat and leading the newly formed party, while leader Nepal sat next to him. Khanal ranked second in the party hierarchy  in the erstwhile CPN-UML.

“I will talk with the chairs K P Sharma Oli and Dahal about the new party hierarchy today,” said Khanal adding, “I smell conspiracy here.”

Khanal also expressed his dissatisfaction over the party unification announcement in his absence. Khanal was in China when the two largest communist parties of Nepal, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) announced their historic merger last week.

“I had told Chair Oli a day before I went to China. But they didn’t consult with me about the unification,” said Khanal who was also a member of the party unification coordination committee. He said that he had been to China for health checkup.

Various sources have claimed that leaders Ishwor Pokhrel and Bhim Rawal are also unhappy with the leadership management in the new party.

KATHMANDU,  May 2: Senior leader of CPN-UML, Jhala Nath Khanal Wednesday said that CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ can become the prime minister of Nepal again.

Even four months after the completion of elections, UML and Maoist Center have failed to conclude the merger process differences over power sharing deal. Maoist Center has demanded equal power on the new party and the government.

Maoist Center Chair Dahal during a one-to-meeting with Prime Minister and UML Chair K P Oli had asked the latter to choose between party leadership or premiership but UML turned down the offer.

But Khanal argued that there will be turn by turn system after the unification.

“The one with the right policy, principle and character will be the leader of the new party. We are making Prachanda the co-chair of the new party. He has already become the prime minister of Nepal, and he can become again. He can also lead the new party. We have already reached a deal. The new party can make Prachanda the new prime minister. There is no doubt in it,” said Khanal in an interview with Rishi Dhamala.

He further said that two left parties are making efforts to sort out differences and find a common ground to finalize the proposed unification. “We are inch closer to announce unification. It can be this month or next month. Unification will be announced very soon,” he added.

“We are trying to settle the differences through talks. There are ideological, political and organizational differences. It will take a little time, but I think we are very close to conclude the merger process,” said Khanal.

“We have moved ahead together since the November 26 and December 7 elections. We have jointly formed government, and we have people’s mandate. Therefore we are at a point of no return. Unification will take place in any circumstances,” he added.

KATHMANDU, Feb 6: CPN-UML senior leader Jhalanath Khanal has said that left alliance unification process would be concluded soon by resolving ideological and organizational problems with CPN (Maoist Center).

At a news conference organized at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Tuesday upon his arrival after participating in 29th standing committee of International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) held at Tehran of Iran, leader Khanal expressed the view that a new government would move ahead after initiating a new friendship with India and China.

A total of 38 political representatives from 24 countries including Asia, Europe and Africa had participated in the meeting of ICAPP related to silk-road.

During the meeting, leader Khanal talked about the role of political parties on silk-road as well as held meeting with political leaders of different countries, said Khanal’s Personal Secretary, Krishna Bhattarai.

The CPN-UML senior leader had left for Iran on January 31.

SAGAR KARKI, KATHMANDU, Jan 16: As the two parties of the left alliance CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center), who swept the recently concluded House of Representatives and Province Assembly election, are expediting talks for possible merger, concerns are on the table how the two parties will conclude the power sharing deal and leadership management in the party after merger.

It is almost certain that KP Oli, Chair of UML, which won 80 seats in House of Representatives election under first-past-the-post system, will be the next prime minister. Maoist Center Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal also seems contended with Oli heading the next government. But question also remains on the issue who will head the party?

Maoist leaders have demanded that Dahal should be handed the responsibility of party chair if Oli becomes the prime minister. Even though some leaders of UML seem to have agreed on Dahal heading the party, some leaders such as General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel’s controversial remarks earlier last December that ‘prime minister, party chair and parliamentary party leader should be the same person’, added some mistrust between the two parties. Even though, Pokhrel corrected his statement saying it was his personal opinion, his remarks was one of the recipes for growing speculation on party merger process.

Besides, With President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s tenure due to expire in two months because of constitutional provision, the race for the position of President and House of Speaker are also open.

UML Chair Oli has been in mood to continue Bhandari’s tenure for the second term since she has served for only two years while the first President Ram Baran Yadav served for seven years. Maoist Center Chair Dahal has also made peace with Oli’s mood to continue Bhadari’s tenure for the next five years since Dahal has served no objection on the matter yet.

Also, President’s Bhandari’s hosting of dinner party to the entire family of Dahal and various other leaders of left alliance have also been described by various media as the strategy to lobby her tenure in the position for second term.

But UML sources say that, the UML leaders are divided over whether to continue Bhandari’s term for the second time or select a new leader.

Meanwhile, senior leader of UML, Jhala Nath Khanal and former House Speaker Subash Nembang are also on the fray. Khanal in a recent interview with Rishi Dhamala said that he was ready for any position, whether be it president, prime minister or party chief if the party hands him the responsibility. According to UML sources, Oli, if he cannot continue Bhandari’s tenure, is in the mood to select Subash Nembang for the presidential position.

But, another senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal is lobbying for Khanal for the position saying that Khanal’s proper management is crucial since he has already handled the responsibility of party chair and prime minister previously. According to Nepal, failing to manage Khanal to a dignified post could widen the faction after the unification.

It has also been understood that Chair Dahal is in the mood to lobby Maoist leader Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ for the position.

Likewise, sources have said that voices have been raised to continue Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun’s tenure for the second term as Pun is a Janajati. Similarly, it is almost certain that one from either former Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar or Subash Chandra Nembang will be given the position of House of Speaker.

KATHMANDU, Jan 14: The two parties of the left alliance, UML and CPN (Maoist Center) have started discussions for searching candidates for the key posts like president, vice-president, speaker and ministers. But the issue has remained as a challenge for both parties at a time when the unification process is on bench.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Saturday hosted a dinner party to the entire family of CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal and various other leaders of the left alliance. But with President Bhandari’s term is due to expire in two months because of constitutional provision—the dinner party has also triggered speculation that it was her strategy to lobby for second term as president, reported Republica Daily.

Also, UML Chair KP Oli has also been understood to be in the mood to continue her tenure for the second term since she has served in the position for just two years while the first president served for seven years. But, according to UML sources, the UML leaders are split over whether to continue Bhandari’s tenure for the second term or select a new leader for the presidential position. Some leaders have argued that management of senior leaders like Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal is crucial as failing to administer Nepal and Khanal to a dignified post could amplify factions after the merger.

UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal in an interview with Reporters’ Club Nepal’s president Rishi Dhamala said that he is ready for President, Prime Minister or Party Chair-any job the party hands him over.

“If the party realizes my necessity, I am ready any position whether it be president, prime minister or party chief,” said Khanal.

He however clarified that he has not demanded or put claim on any post. He said, “I am okay even without any post. I am focused on welfare of people and country- I am a leader-positionlessness doesn’t affect me on my duty.”

Khanal also assured that leadership management would be carefully and consciously handled.

“We will manage leadership keeping in view the ideology of late Pushpa Lal Shrestha—which prioritizes party’s principles over leadership. UML has always run on ideological basis. After the merger, party will run in unity. We have collective leaders who will leader the party,” said Khanal.

He, however, said that there are high chances that KP Oli will become the prime minister of the new government. “We are carrying our necessary home work. We will decide paying attention to the circumstance.”

UNITY BEFORE NEW GOVT

He also assured that the merger process between UML and Maoist Center will be concluded before the formation of new government. He said,” I cannot not guarantee you that unification process will be concluded within 15 days. But it is certain that the merger process will be finalized before new government.”

When asked what ideology the merged party will follow, he said, “The party has run on the basis of ‘People’s Multi-party democracy’ for long. We will discuss on proposed new principles. We will soon reach conclusion.”

Khanal also urged the government not to step away from its duty of appointing province chiefs and temporary province capitals owing to disputes and protests.

“The government must immediately name temporary province capitals and governors. It cannot skip the task just to avoid the protest erupted in various cities demanding their home city be declared capital.”

“But the government must be careful while appointing governors. One-sided and random appointments will not be received well.”

“If so, the new government will reverse the decision,” he warned.

ILAM, Dec 10: CPN-UML’s candidates, former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and former House Speaker Subash Nembang has emerged victorious in Ilam constituency 1 and 2 respectively.

Khanal defeated Bhupendra Kattel of Nepali Congress with almost double vote margin. He garnered 36,807 votes while Kattel only scored 19,637 votes.

Likewise, Nembang garnered 36,514 votes to secure his seat in federal parliament. He defeated Nepali Congress candidate Keshav Thapa who only got 26,860 votes.

Similarly, in Ilam Province Assembly elections, UML’s Khinu Langwa Limbu secured his victory in Ilam-1 ‘A’ with 18,686 votes. He defeated his Nepali Congress rival Devendra Kumar Rai.

ILAM, Nov 22: Former Prime Minister and CPN-UML senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal has said that no force on earth could stop the left alliance from getting united.

“There will be a unification of the left coalition. No force can halt it,” he said while addressing an election campaign at Maijogmai rural municipality-6 in Ilam on Tuesday.

He also said that development and prosperity is the agenda of the leftist party, and that change would occur under the leadership of the left alliance.

Khanal, who is vying in the upcoming House of Representatives elections from Ilam constituency 1, also pledged to carry out development activities in the district. RSS

ILAM, Oct. 7: The CPN (UML) Ilam District Committee has recommended the names of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and former Chairman of Constituent Assembly (CA) Subas Nembang for their candidacy in the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives.

Both the leaders were recommended unopposed, UML Ilam District Committee Chairman Ram Rana said. Khanal has been recommended for Ilam Constituency No. 1 while Nembang for Constituency No. 2.

Khanal and Nembang are also the lawmakers from the respective constituencies they are recommended for the forthcoming polls. RSS