The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has distanced itself from the internal dispute of ruling CPN.
It has claimed that President Sher Bahadur Deuba had discussed appointments in Constitutional bodies, different bills, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and other issues with Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli during their meeting on Wednesday and refuted rumors that the two discussed coalition government.
Senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel and a few central members raised the issue of Deuba meeting Oli and Deputy Parliamentary Party leader of CPN Subas Chandra Nembang during the central committee meeting on Sunday.
Deuba claimed he discussed appointments in Constitutional bodies, different bills, MCC and other issues during the meeting with Oli a day before the latter prorogued House session. Deuba then asked Minendra Rijal to brief about the meeting with Nembang on Sunday saying he was also present when the leaders also asked about the meeting with Nembang.
Rijal added that the meeting discussed appointments in Constitutional bodies. But Paudel continued to ask Deuba why he discussed power sharing when the country is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and the party is preparing for the next general convention, according to a central member.
"Why does the senior leader speak without knowing the truth and facts? We met after they asked to meet. I have not given words to anyone," the member quoted Deuba as saying after that.
Paudel had taken a swipe at Deuba during an interaction with party leaders and cadres in Bagmati province on Saturday and called the 'thinking of building one's house after destruction of another's unfortunate.'
The party has called linking of NC in the internal dispute of the ruling party a CPN propaganda. "We are not novice in politics. We will not discuss power sharing with anyone until CPN splits and another party is registered in the Election Commission. We should understand this thing and should not be unnecessarily agitated," an NC leader said. "They meet us repeatedly, talk one thing and publicize that as another. This is a tactic of Oli to bluff Dahal and other CPN leaders."
The leader claimed that senior leader of CPN Madhav Kumar Nepal also met NC leaders expressing concern after Deuba met Oli and Nembang. "CPN leaders are trying to throw all kinds of cards to bluff the other faction. They pretend meeting us at one time and then meet the army chief at other. We should not be involved in their internal dispute."
NC Spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma also claimed that the party is absolutely neutral on the internal dispute of CPN.
Another NC leader Gagan Thapa has also stressed on the need for party to remain in the opposition during the current term. "The people gave mandate to CPN to run the government for five years and NC to play the role of a strong opposition," Thapa has said. "We are clear on that. CPN's ploy of bluffing other faction by showing the closeness with NC is insult to the mandate. Do change your attitude and games."
