Siganure drive against chairman

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Two factions led by Vice-chairmen duo Mohan Baidhya and Baburam Bhattarai on Tuesday held a 'secret' gathering at Siddhartha Cottage in Lalitpur and launched a signature campaign. Later, another meeting was held at Bhattarai's Sanepa-based residence and after that Bhattarai went to Jhamsikhel-based residence of Narayan Kaji Shrestha to convince him to support them. However, standing committee member Barshaman Pun claimed that the two factions were able to garner only 61 signatures, which in 147-strong Central Committee will not prove the majority. According to Pun, Shrestha, Amik Sherchan and Dinanath Sharma were against the signature campaign when the meetings were going on. However, CC member Maheshwor Dahal claimed that if Thapa stood by Baidhya-Bhattarai tie-up, they will have a clear majority in CC but added that they were not for changing the party leadership. They are for ensuring appropriate work division, which is currently concentrated in the chairman, said Maheshwor.