The ruling Nepal Communist Party’s Central Committee faction, led by Executive Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, removed Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil from the post of chairman on Tuesday and decided to take disciplinary action against him.
The decision has virtually split the party into two factions more than two years after its formation. Earlier, 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.
Rekha Sharma, a central committee member, was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post that now “Dahal and Nepal will chair the meetings in turn as stated in the party statue”.
“Oli has been expelled as the party chair for going against the party,” she added.
It has come to light that nearly two-thirds of the Central Committee members were present in the meeting. Out of a total of 446 members, 313 were present as the meeting organised by the Prachanda-led faction.
The development does not look good for KP Sharma Oli as fresh polls will be held on April 21 after the Parliament was dissolved by Nepal cabinet a few days ago.
Prachanda is likely to be elected as the parliamentary party leader on Wednesday, as per the Kathmandu Post, which cited party leaders. Since the Prachanda-led faction has a majority, it has decided to take disciplinary action against Oli on Sunday.
The next meeting of the Central Committee has been scheduled for Thursday, said the party’s spokesperson Narayankaji Shrestha.
