 |
|
| Kathmandu, Sunday January 19, 2003 Magh 05, 2059. |
|
Warring leaders Oli, Nepal
claim majority
By Ghanashyam Ojha
KATHMANDU, Jan 18 Even the fourth day of the
election of the representatives for the party general convention of the Communist Party of
Nepal-Unified Marxist & Leninist (CPN-UML), saw both powerful leader K P Sharma Oli
and general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal in the party, claiming their majority among the
elected representatives.
In a nation-wide election for the
representatives today, the results coming in is quite sketchy. Counting in many of the
districts is still on. However, the results of over 20 districts have so far been
received. About 400 representatives have been selected from different districts and party
sister organisations.
A close source to Oli said that out of 345
representatives elected from geography, 218 are in favour of Oli and 99 support Nepal,
while 28 maintain a neutral position.
Oli-led group is still hopeful of bagging 75
percent majority, whereas Nepal-led group claims of 80 percent among the elected
representatives.
Oli-led group claims of majority in Kathmandu,
Ilam, Chitwan, Kavre, Bardiya, Jajarkot, Panchthar, Tehrathum whereas it claims of
sweeping records in Jhapa, Bara, Rupandehi districts, farmers’ and womens’
wings. It claims that it is leading in Jhapa by 35, Kathmandu by 34, Bardiya by 13,
Chitwan 19 and Ilam 6.
But the party leadership claims of majority in
Chitwan, Kapilbastu, students’ wing, cultural wing, Arghakhanchi, Kanchanpur,
Tehrathum, Panchthar, Dadeldhura and Rapti districts.
Refuting claims made by Oli, it said that it is
leading in Kathmandu by 40, Dadeldhura by 5, Kapilbastu by 10, Arghakhanchi 13, Chitwan
10, Students’ wings by eight.
Oli talking to The Kathmandu Post said that the
result was in his favour. "The result is coming as per my expectation," Oli
said. "It’s my prestigious victory in many of the districts."
However, Iswor Pokharel, spokesperson of the
party Standing Committee said that the initial result has proved that the party cadres are
against those who propagate futile disputes and unethical opinions in the party. "The
cadres are against those who are creating chaos in the party just for position."
Both the groups insist of having their own
majority in many of the districts. Even in Kathmandu, Jajarkot, Chitawan etc, both of them
insist on having their own majority.
However, it can be assumed that Oli has a strong
hold in Jhapa, Ilam, Kathmandu, Chitwan, Bardiya districts and Women’s and
Farmer’s wings whereas Jajarkot, Kapilbastu, Arghakhanchi, Rupandehi, Tehrathum and
Kanchanpur districts and Cultural and Student wings are still under the sway of Nepal.
UML, from January 15 has initiated election of
representatives for the party general convention slated for February 1-5 in Janakpur. The
party took up the option to select the representatives through an election process, as
there were dissenting views between Oli and Nepal, in terms of the party organisational
model.
Oli is representing the democratic faction
whereas Nepal is leading the status quo faction in UML. Oli has been insisting for
presidential system and Nepal is in favour of general secretarial system in the party.
Both of them are expected to wage a fierce battle for leadership in the party general
convention in Janakpur.
Out of over five million members of UML, there
are over 1.9 million organised members, who are entitled to take part in electing the
representatives for the party general convention. Over 1000 representatives are to
entertain their franchise in electing the party central committee members in Janakpur.
The election result of about 50 percent of the
total representatives is expected to be out by Sunday.
Other Stories
|
