Nepal Prime Minister Oli forms new general convention committee as ruling NCP heads for split, says Reports

 Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Tuesday announced a new 1,199-member committee to organise ruling Nepal Communist Party's general convention in an effort to strengn his hold on party as it heed for a split, according to media reports.

Oli, who is also one of two chairmen of ruling party, announced new committee during a meeting of party's central committee members close to him at Baluwatar, prime minister's official residence, Kathmandu Post reported.

members of newly-formed general convention organising committee took oaths in presence of prime minister.

meeting also decided to remove Naryan Kaji Shrestha as party spokesperson.

Foreign Minister Preep Gyawali, a Standing Committee member, was appointed as new spokesperson of party, said Binod Shrestha, a Central Committee member.

Nepal on Sunday plunged into a political crisis after Oli got President to dissolve Parliament, a controversial move amidst a prolonged tussle for power between him and former premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ within ruling dispensation.

Oli’s latest move is aimed at achieving a majority in Central Committee, My Republica reported.

newly-formed committee ds 556 members to existing 446-member central committee of ruling party.

dressing Central Committee members of his faction, Oli said that it would not make any difference to party if some leers quit.

In meeting, Oli also proposed to hold party’s general convention on November 18-23 in Kathmandu next year. Earlier party’s convention was scheduled from April 7 to 12, 2021.

Since elections have been declared for April 30 and May 10, it is not possible to hold general convention before November next year, according to a party member.

Oli's decision to announce new committee comes at a time when rival factions of ruling party are preparing to make formal announcements for a party split.

rival faction led by Prachanda is also holding separate central committee meetings in Kathmandu.

Both factions of party have intensified ir efforts to retain official party recognition along with election symbol. two factions are now busy making strategies to wrest control of party.

On Monday, Prachanda-led faction informed Election Commission of party’s Standing Committee’s decision to take action against chairperson Oli for breaching party discipline.

Janardan Sharma, a Standing Committee member close to Prachanda, said that Central Committee meeting will endorse Standing Committee’s recommendation to take action against chairperson Oli. 

(IMAGE CREDITS:Twitter/@kpsharmaoli)