UML politburo for amendment to 7-pt deal

THIRA L BHUSAL

KATHMANDU, Feb 21: The politburo meeting of the ruling CPN-UML has decided to amend the seven-point agreement and forwarded a proposal to this effect to the party´s central committee for final endorsement.

The meeting accepted the controversial deal after redefining its main spirit and objective as being to complete the peace process and write a democratic constitution within the given timeframe.

The politburo has come up with a middle-way solution to the row in which the two rival factions in the party were engaged in arguments and counterarguments for and against the deal reached between UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on February 3, just hours before Khanal was elected prime minister with Maoist support.

While the Khanal faction defended the deal, the other camp led by former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Sharma Oli vehemently opposed some points mentioned in the agreement.

The Nepal-Oli camp smelt a rat in one of the points in the agreement, which expressed commitment toward strengthening ´people´s inclusive democratic republic´. Nepal and Oli loyals had accused Khanal of becoming ready to implement the Maoist agenda.

The UML politburo decided to replace the objectionable wording with ´there will be no hindrance in strengthening and institutionalizing federal democratic republic in the country´.

Khanal was also fiercely criticized for committing himself to rotational leadership of the government by the UML and Maoist chairmen. To clarify the controversial point, the politburo stated that a consensus among all the major political parties was essential to build peace and write the constitution.

On yet another contentious point, about forming a separate security force comprising Maoist combatants, they agreed to work in accordance with the constitution and to exercise the authority of the formal bodies. This indicates that the decisions taken by the Constituent Assembly, the political parties and the prime minister-headed special committee, formed as per the constitution, will be final and there will be no validity for any agreement reached among the leaders without institutional involvement.

"This meeting accepts the [seven-point] agreement with a plan to bring the Maoists into consensus over the issues under disagreement, in the aforementioned way," said the proposal passed by the politburo.

While leaders close to Khanal said the party endorsed the deal with minor clarifications, the Nepal-Oli camp explained the decision as their victory, saying it was amended as per their stance. At the same time the moderate leaders, who claim to be a third-front, claimed that it was a win-win situation for all as it was recommended by them.

The decision came as a face-saver for both rival factions as they realized that going for a vote to take a decision would push the party to the brink of vertical division.

PM to look after home portfolio

On the row over the home ministry, the leaders said the prime minister is in a mood to expand his cabinet soon while keeping the home portfolio for himself.

The largest coalition party, UCPN (Maoist), has refused to join the government for not being allowed to head the home portfolio.

"The prime minister said at the meeting that he is planning to expand the cabinet while keeping the home portfolio for himself for the time being as an immediate solution," said a politburo member. According to him, other leaders at the meeting did not object to his idea. Some moderate leaders who had offered the same formula to the prime minister backed the proposal at the meeting. "Though the meeting didn´t take any decision in this connection, it is likely that the central committee will okay the prime minister´s proposal," the leader said.
 
Courtesy: Republica