NCP’s Prachanda-led faction removes Oli as party chairman

Kathmandu, Dec 22: The ruling Nepal Communist Party’s Central Committee faction led by Executive Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Tuesday removed Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli from the post of chairman and decided to take disciplinary action against him, virtually splitting the party more than two years after its formation.
The Central Committee unanimously nominated senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal as the party’s second chairman in place of Oli. Prachanda is the first chairman of the party. “Now Dahal and Nepal will chair the meetings in turn as stated in the party statue,” said Rekha Sharma, a central committee member.
“Oli has been expelled as the party chair for going against the party,” Sharma was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post. Former prime minister Jhalanath Khanal and former agriculture minister Ghanashyam Bhushal were among the senior leaders who attended the Central Committee meeting of Prachanda-led faction.
Nearly two-thirds of the Central Committee members were present in the meeting. Out of 446 central committee members, 313 were present at the meeting organized by Prachanda-led faction.
Prachanda would be elected as the parliamentary party leader on Wednesday, the paper said, citing party leaders. Prachanda-led faction, having majority in all the party committees, has decided to take disciplinary action against Oli on Sunday, the paper said.
The next meeting of the Central Committee has been scheduled for Thursday, said party spokesperson Narayankaji Shrestha.
The Prachanda-led faction has also decided to file a separate petition in the Supreme Court seeking reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives.
Eleven writ petitions have already been filed in the apex court on Sunday and Monday demanding for reinstatement. The party will also launch nationwide protest rallies in collaboration with other major political parties, said Sunil Manandhar, central member of the party.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Oli, one of the two chairmen of the ruling party, organised a separate meeting of the Central Committee leaders close to him at Baluwatar, the prime minister’s official residence. (PTI)