UML unification effort in final stage, discussions between the second-tier leaders today

KATHMANDU: Second-tier leaders, who have been in informal and formal talks for a long time in an effort to maintain the unity of the CPN-UML, also held discussions on Friday.

During the talks held at the Summit Hotel in Lalitpur, the leaders agreed to unite the party from the status quo of 16th May and to stand for a strong UML by integrating the former UCPN (Maoist) leaders and cadres from the CPN (UML).

Subash Nemwang and Bishnu Poudel from the establishment side and Surendra Pandey, Ghanshyam Bhusal and Gokarna Bista from the Madhav Nepal-Jhalanath Khanal side were present at the discussion.

Nemwang, who was also the coordinator of the team formed earlier, said that the UML’s attempt to split would not be successful and a joint meeting of the party would be held in a few days.

Nemwang said that there was no need for other conditions and apprehensions as party president KP Sharma Oli had already called for moving the party forward from the status quo of 16th May.

According to sources, the two sides have agreed to hold the 16th May meeting to add central members to the CPN and to adjust the former Maoist leaders by giving them the same responsibilities.

After that, there has been a discussion of withdrawing the action against the leaders including Madhav Nepal and supporting the UML-led government even if the parliament is not reinstated.

Leaders including Madhav Nepal and Bhim Rawal have expressed doubts about the latest discussions. However, other leaders are in favor of not placing any other conditions as Oli is ready to return to the 16th May status quo.