Prime Minister (PM) and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has exasperated at extreme bargaining by CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in course of unification of the parties.
"I have found Dahal is someone who does extreme bargaining. He has been bargaining too much but unification has to be done," a UML leader quoted Oli as confiding with leaders close to him.
Dahal is currently bargaining mainly on two issues.
He has demanded that Maoist center should have at least 45 percent representation in the central committee stating that unification should be on basis of equality.
The task force including leaders from both the parties has almost agreed on a 300-strong central committee. UML central committee currently has 209 members, and UML leaders have proposed to add Maoist leaders to take the number to 300. The task force has proposed that the politburo should have one-third strength of the central committee, and the standing committee one-third of politburo.
"The size of central committee of the unified party will now have to be increased if the Maoists were to get 45 percent representation," the UML leader added.
The other issue of concern for Dahal is the process of leadership transfer after the general convention of unification.
He has been raising this issue with priority right from the beginning. He had asked how the general convention will be convened and whether there will be election in the general convention or not during the meeting of coordination committee for unification held at Baluwatar on April 17.
Dahal wants to be assured that he will get leadership after unification.
Oli has briefed his leaders that the two chairmen have agreed on the issue of election symbol of the unified party and its perspective on 'People's War.'
Dahal, according to Oli, has agreed to keep sun as the election symbol and mention in the party statute that the 'People's War' had a role in the political change without stating it was right.
Dahal had also briefed his leaders during the meeting of central secretariat on Wednesday that agreement has already been reached on political issues. "Agreement has been reached on almost all the ideological issues. I will now invite you for the final meeting for unification," a Maoist leader quoted Dahal as saying during the meeting. "We are preparing to announce the date for unification on the occasion of birth anniversary of Karl Marx on Saturday."
Oli and Dahal are currently holding one-on-one meeting at the PM's official residence in Baluwatar. The meeting of coordination committee for unification is also likely to be convened later today.
