KATHMANDU: The Prachanda-Madhav group of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has decided to stay in its separate party and go for a judicial review against the Supreme Court decision.
The Prachanda-Madhav faction had discussed the issue at a Standing Committee meeting on Monday after the Supreme Court’s decision on Sunday deactivated the unity between the then CPN (UML) and the Unified CPN (Maoist Center).
Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha informed that the meeting concluded with the SC’s verdict as politically motivated and decided to file a petition for review.
He also said that this Standing Committee meeting could be final as the NCP has to implement the decision of the apex court even if there is disagreement. “This may be the last such meeting. The Supreme Court’s decision has to go to the implementation stage,” he said.
Politically motivated decision
Leader Shrestha said that the decision of the Supreme Court was politically motivated. ‘The Supreme Court’s decision is a political decision that goes beyond the writ petitioner’s claim. In the writ petition regarding the name of the party, it has been decided to go beyond that, despite its responsibility to draw conclusions about the name and issue orders,’ he said.
Stating that he would welcome the decision if the writ petitioner’s demand was met, Shrestha expressed serious disagreement with the decision to unite or not to unite any political party and split the unified party. “We strongly disagree with this decision. Despite the disagreement, it will be implemented in its own way,” said Shrestha.
Meanwhile, the CPN (UML) leader Bhim Rawal has also clarified that the Madhav Nepal group would be in CPN (UML) automatically. He said, “We are elected member of CPN UML and it’s our party. But, we will make necessary decision on taking further step.”
The same party for 32 months
The then CPN-UML and the Unified CPN (Maoist Center) merged to form the Nepal Communist Party (NCP).
The process of unification between the two parties was not completed and eventually the situation became different due to the decision of the Supreme Court. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has already welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision while Madhav Kumar Nepal and Prachanda were against the verdict.
After Prime Minister Oli dissolved the House of Representatives, the Prachanda-Madhav faction was united in its opposition. But Sunday’s decision has put former UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and other leaders in a position to stay with KP Oli.
Name disputed!
The Communist Party of Nepal, led by Rishi Kattel, had already registered with the Election Commission before the then UML and the UCPN (Maoist Center) merged to form the Nepal Communist Party (NCP).
The Election Commission registered the name of another party (CPN-UML) on 2075 BS to match Kattel’s name. Kattel went to the apex court against the decision of the Commission. Deciding 27 months after the writ was registered, the Supreme Court issued the writ as per Kattel’s demand.
