KATHMANDU, April 21: The central secretariat meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) ended without consensus between the two rival factions on the issue of two ordinances forwarded by the government to President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Monday afternoon.
The meeting was convened apparently at the initiation of NCP executive chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal two hours after a cabinet meeting decided to forward the two ordinances to the president without holding discussions at the party secretariat.
The first ordinance amends the provisions in the Political Party Act to make it easy to split political parties, while the second ordinance makes it possible to convene a meeting of the Constitutional Council even without the participation of the main opposition party leader. The Constitutional Council, headed by the prime minister, makes constitutional appointments.
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After the cabinet meeting, the ministers in the Oli-led government representing the former Maoists held a secret meeting with chairman Dahal at Dahal's residence in Khumaltar.
In the midst of the secretariat meeting, the leaders of the Dahal-faction were stunned to learn of the two proposed ordinances approved by the president.
It is learnt that the Dahal-led faction has expressed regret over the political move taken by PM Oli. However, Oli defended the move at the meeting.
In a press statement, NCP spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that the NCP secretariat meeting discussed the two ordinances. According to Shrestha, PM Oli briefed the secretariat members about the rationale behind bringing the two ordinances. Secretariat members also aired their views on the topic.
"In the midst of the meeting, we came to know that the two ordinances were approved by President Bhandari," Shrestha said.
The meeting stressed the need to keep the party united and wage an effective battle against the coronavirus.
