KATHMANDU, May 13: The Standing Committee meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, which was scheduled to begin at 11:00 am in Dhumbarahi today, has been postponed.

According to party Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the meeting has been postponed as some of the members of the Standing Committee were yet to undergo screening for the COVID-19 test.

The coronavirus screening was required after it was found that a former bodyguard of Standing Committee member Bhim Rawal was tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Armed Police Force personnel has remained Rawal’s bodyguard for the past few years. But he is on leave and has been living in his own house in Duwakota, Bhaktapur.

The ministry had confirmed two fresh cases in Bhaktapur yesterday late evening. Another patient is from Madhyapur Thimi municipality-9. It has been revealed that she had traveled to Bhaktapur from Sunsari two days ago.

The Standing Committee meeting was postponed a week ago as well after Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, who is not ready to submit to Madhav Kumar Nepal’s demand of “one person one post” model walked away from the Secretariat meeting which was supposed to finalize the agendas of the Standing Committee meeting.

The next date for the meeting has not been confirmed yet.

KATHMANDU, May 7: Nepal Communist Party Standing Committee member Haribol Gajurel told Prime Minister and chair K P Sharma Oli that running away from the meeting will not resolve the internal crisis that reached a climax after the latter pushed the two controversial ordinances.

As per the demand of the two-third members of the 44-member Standing Committee to summon the meeting, the Secretariat had fixed the meeting on Thursday.

The Secretariat meeting on Wednesday was expected to decide the agendas of the Standing Committee meeting, the responsibility was handed to another Chair Pushpa Kamal Dhahan and General Secretary Bishnu Paudel.

But the Secretariat could not proceed further after the prime minister walked away from the meeting citing “tiredness”, pushing the much-awaited meeting to uncertainty.

After the meeting ended inclusively, Oli and another chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a separate talk and deferred the meeting.

“The Standing Committee meeting should be summoned within 15 days of the demand. The deadline has already passed but the prime minister is running away from the Committee,” Gajurel told Rishi Dhamala.

“Even though the prime minister self-criticized and assured to abide by the party instruction, how can he run away from the demand of the Standing Committee?”

Oli had told the Secretariat that there was no need to hold the Standing Committee meeting since he had already withdrawn the controversial ordinances and, also he was not in the mood to approve Madhav Kumar Nepal’s proposal of “one person one post” model.

“The model of one person one post is not a new agenda. The issue is on discussion since the unification,” Gajurel said.

“We have sought clarification from the prime minister for introducing the ordinances and the damages it brought to the party,” Gajurel said, “which is why the Standing Committee meeting should be summoned.”

KATHMANDU, May 6: The standing committee meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party has become uncertain owing to “lack of homework”.

The Secretariat had met today in Baluwatar to discuss the agendas of the standing committee meeting, which the previous Secretariat meeting had scheduled for Thursday.

But, after the meeting was informed that the chair duo Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ had not done enough homework on the proposal to be presented in the next meeting, the meeting ended inconclusively, according to party Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

Shrestha did not clarify whether the meeting will be held tomorrow but said, “The two chairs will discuss and decide about the proposals, agendas and meeting itself,” he added.

According to reports, Prime Minister Oli had left in the middle of the meeting citing tiredness and had not turned up compelling the Secretariat members to end the meeting without a conclusion.

“The prime minister informed the meeting that he would not be able to stay in the meeting until the end because he was not feeling physically well and as well as busy and left,” Shrestha said.

KATHMANDU, May 6: The Nepal Communist Party Secretariat is meeting today afternoon at Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.

The meeting scheduled at 3 pm will discuss the agendas, including a political document prepared by Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, of the standing committing meeting which is taking place on Thursday.

‘OLI WILL RUN THE GOVT AS PER PARTY’S INSTRUCTION’

KATHMANDU, May 3: After nearly two weeks long intense tussle, the ruling Nepal Communist Party finally put the deadlock to bed on Saturday following a renewed Secretariat meeting, which saw the Executive Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal take his seat on the same line with Prime Minister and another chair K P Sharma Oli.

The dispute between the two factions led by Oli and Madhav Kumar Nepal-Dahal reached a climax after the prime minister suddenly pushed the ordinances related to Political Parties and Constitutional Council in late-mid April without consultation with the party.

And the surprise arrival of President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s approval for the controversial ordinances amid the Secretariat meeting which was urging the prime minister to drop them only frustrated not only the majority of the Secretariat members but also the standing committee, as a result, Oli’s chairmanship and premiership both became an easy target for the rival faction.

Tough Oli was not ready to submit to rivals’ demand and both factions subsequently began the exercise to show their strength in the parliamentary party by collecting signatures in their support, which led to speculations that the party which only merged on the eve of the 2017 Elections is on the verge of an unfortunate disaster.

Oli then played the Bam Dev Gautam card, promising him the position of the prime minister, the position Gautam holds dear since he lost the parliamentary election and he is the only top senior leader in the ruling party not having a chance to lead the government. 

The proposal broke the Bhaisapati alliance as Gautam started exploring legal possibilities for his dream job, which also gave Oli majority in the Secretariat as he had already convinced Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa to his side.

The nine-member Secretariat decided to elect Gautam to the House of Representatives “in the appropriate time” and fixed a date for standing committee meeting which seemed uncertain owing to the intraparty feud. The prime minister, who has long been criticized for running the party unilaterally, also agreed to run the government as per the party’s instructions.

The storm seems to have calmed for now but the senior leader and Secretariat member Jhala Nath Khanal argued there is more works to be done yet.

“PM Oli and Dahal self-criticized the weaknesses and showed a willingness to move forward the party in integrity and as per the people’s mandate. I also welcomed the idea and told them that the Secretariat meeting is not enough thus we should call the standing committee meeting immediately and review these issues and reach a conclusion,” said Khanal adding, “Other Secretariat members were also unambiguous to the idea,” he told Rishi Dhamala.

“The ordinances had created a ripple within the party, but now it has relaxed as we all have realized that the party should run in cohesion in principles, police and statute by correcting mistakes instead of disputes.”

“The party has united again,” he added.

The Secretariat has decided to hold the standing committee meeting on May 7.

“As per the conclusion of the standing committee meeting, we will present a report that will put forward the roadmap for the party.”

“PM Oli has also given his word to move ahead in unity. He will run the government as per the instruction of the party.”

When asked if the party will ask for the prime minister’s resignation, Khanal said, “No, we won’t ask for his resignation.”

“The proposal to make Gautam as prime minster has faded for now. But electing him to the House of Representatives is certain.”

“Moreover, the talks about making Nepal as the third chair of the party have also fainted,” he added.

“We are not in the mood for further ripple in the party. We all want to move the government and the party in a stable environment,” he said.

About the possible reshuffle in the Council of Ministers, he said: “These will be done respectively.” 

KATHMANDU, May 2: A meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party Secretariat has decided to call the standing committee meeting on May 7.

According to party Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the Secretariat will meet again a day before the standing committee meeting to prepare for the next day.

The meeting has also decided to induct Bam Dev Gautam to the House of Representatives “in the appropriate time”.

According to Shrestha, Prime Minister and Party Chair KP Sharma Oli and another Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ took to self-criticism over the shortcomings made by the government and the party, and pledged to not indulge in any activity that could bring division in the party.

Accordingly, directives shall be issued to other party leaders and cadres to follow suit.

KATHMANDU, May 2: The ruling Nepal Communist Party Secretariat meeting has begun one-and-a-half hour behind the schedule at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.

The meeting will discuss various issues including PM K P Sharma Oli’s proposal to line Bam Dev Gautam as next prime minister and Madhav Kumar Nepal as third chair and expected to resolve the intraparty tension that escalated after Oli pushed the controversial ordinances of April 19.

The meeting is also expected to decide on the meeting of the party’s standing committee.

Meanwhile, the meeting has changed the sitting arrangement of the secretariat members, where Executive Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who sat with other members in the previous meetings, has taken his position behind Oli.
Prior to the meeting, the prime minister, who seems desperate to save his chair in both the party and the government, had held discussion with President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Dahal separately.

Dahal-Nepal faction has been pressuring Oli to resign from the post of prime minister and party chair.

But it has been learned that Oli is unlikely to submit to his rival faction’s demands since he has now become able to garner majority in the Secretariat.

After Gautam and Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa changed their alliance, Oli is now in majority in the nine-member Secretariat. Oli already had support from Deputy-prime Minister and Defense Minister Ishwar Pokharel and General Secretary Bishnu Paudel.

Nepal and Dahal has support from Jhala Nath Khanal and Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

KATHMANDU, April 29: The meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party Secretariat has ended without any conclusion.

The next meeting has been scheduled for May 2, which will decide on the standing committee meeting.

KATHMANDU, April 29: The Secretariat meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party has begun in Baluwatar amid escalated tension within the party.

All nine Secretariat members have gathered at the Prime Minister’s official residence where the faction led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and faction led by Madhav Kumar Nepal and Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal are showing their strength in the parliamentary party through collected signatures of their lawmakers. The meeting was decided after a discussion between Oli and Dahal on Tuesday.

The dispute boiled over after Oli pushed the ordinances related to Political Parties and Constitutional Council without prior consultation with the party, paving way for a party to split with 40 percent support from either the parliamentary party or the central committee.

Although Oli dropped the ordinances five days later following pressure, the push put his position in the party and premiership into a serious risk as it further widened the rift with Nepal faction.

Nepal, who has joined hands with Dahal, has insisted on one person one post policy demanding Oli to leave either the post of prime minister or chairmanship. Nepal faction has also warned Oli that he might lose the premiership if he does not submit to his demands.

But Oli is not ready of admit defeat easily announcing he is ready to face any challenge and is determined to prove his majority.

Leaders close to Oli faction has claimed that they have collected nearly 100 signatures to prove the prime minister’s strength in the party.

The meeting is expected to decide the Standing Committee meeting, which Oli has not agreed to.

KATHMANDU, April 21: Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Monday suddenly introduced two ordinances related to political parties and the constitutional council—which took many by surprise especially the former Maoist camp and the leaders within the ruling party like Jhala Nath Khanal, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Bam Dev Gautam who have aligned with another chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ pushing the Oli to the edge.

The ordinance related to the political parties seeks an amendment in the Political Parties Act which will allow a split vote to require only 40 percent support from either the party central committee and the parliamentary party. The existing Act requires 40 percent support from both the central committee and the parliamentary party.

The amendment will equip Oli with a cursor to split the party if needed since he is currently not in the position to secure 40 percent votes from both central committee and parliamentary party, the prime minister has claimed he has stronghold in the parliamentary party.

Soon after a meeting of the Council of Ministers decided to introduced the two ordinances without prior consultations with the party, the leaders belonging to former Maoists gathered at Dahal’s residence in Khumaltar in haste and called a sudden Secretariat meeting.

The Secretariat expressed serious reservation toward the developments and urged the prime minister to withdraw the ordinances given their timing which came when the nation is in the middle of the battle against COVID-19, but the approval from the President arrived in the middle of the discussion.

Oli told the meeting there was nothing more to be discussed since the approval from the President has already arrived. He, however, did not clarify the intentions behind the sudden introduction of the ordinances.

According to reports, Oli had held discussion with Dahal regarding the unease within the party created by Khanal, Nepal and Gautam’s switch of alignment and alarmed the executive chair about the ordinances. He had also held meeting with Nepal a day before.

Moreover, the ordinance related to the Constitutional Council will inherit crucial power on the prime minister since it seeks an amendment which will allow the body, which is headed by the prime minister himself, to meet even in the absence of the opposition party.

The body which consists of chief justice, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the lower house, chairman of the National Assembly and leaders of main opposition parties, is responsible for major constitutional appointments.