CPN-UML to vote against Paudel

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: CPN-UML’s Standing Committee today decided to vote against Nepali Congress Parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel, the sole contender for premiership in the parliamentary election. The 17th round of PM’s election has been slated for 2 pm tomorrow.

But Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and influential leader KP Oli had urged to call the party’s central committee meeting, apparently to veto the Standing Committee decision. Nepal-Oli faction’s call for the CC meeting was dismissed by party Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, who hopes to win UCPN-Maoist support in his bid for prime ministership.

“It is not possible to review the decision of the Standing Committee,” Khanal told The Himalayan Times. “Pressure from anywhere does not hold a meaning.”

Agni Kharel, central committee member, however, said the party chairman cannot ignore the call for the central committee meeting.

Nepal-Oli faction has a plethora of charges against Khanal: that he does not want the meeting because UCPN-Maoist has been stoking his prime ministerial ambition, that the party chairman is playing a dual role and that he is being used by the Maoist leaders.

According to them, it would be unfortunate for Khanal to become prime minister by skirting the central committee meeting.

Demanding to give continuity to the alliance, Nepal and Oli have pressed the Standing Committee to vote for Paudel. If the NC-UML alliance breaks, the Maoists will only create

further chaos in the country, according to them. According to Pradip Gyawali, the UML leaders clearly put their views that voting against Paudel would create serious problem in continuing NC-UML alliance. Gyawali added that it would be difficult to continue the alliance after UML voted against Paudel.