The latest full Central Committee meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has taken important decisions that have direct bearings on both on organisational functioning and the measures to be taken on the part of the government. The meeting has endorsed the political document presented by Party Chairmen KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. The meeting also passed the party statute amendment proposal presented by General Secretary Bishnu Poudel. In accordance with the amended statute, Bam Dev Gautam has been catapulted to the post of Vice Chairman. Such a meeting holds high significance in the party’s new organisational scenario after the unification of former CPN-UML and former CPN-Maoist Centre. The party is still working hard on finalising the unification process at various organisational wings. People have high hopes on the excellent performance of the party to strengthen the organisation, enhance the performance of the government and maintaining the crucial political stability in the country.
As the NCP has embraced the democratic principles, it has accorded priority to democratic ethos and procedures in the organisational matters as well. As a result, differing views surface within the party leadership levels which are extensively deliberated before arriving at an agreed conclusion. Such a practice does not only promote democratic culture within the party organisation but also refine perspectives, analyses and argument on contentious issues. It has come out to the public that there are differing views within the ruling party regarding the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Views have surfaced in the party meetings both for and against this foreign assistance coming from the US. There have been questions regarding independent national capacity to implement the project and its foreign relations implications. But there has been an overwhelming backing to MCC project including from the main opposition Nepali Congress party. The NCP has formed a taskforce headed by senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal to address the issue of dissent on MCC. Other members of the committee are leaders Pradip Gyawali and Bhim Rawal. Rawal has been vehemently raising dissenting view against MCC.
The US assistance for construction of electricity transmission infrastructure is awaiting parliamentary approval. Various views should be welcomed, discussed and accommodated in a democratic manner but there is a need to stay away from radical views that may hamper the spirit of unity. Such a consideration is more desirable at a time when two powerful left parties of the nation have emerged to dominate the national political scene. This gives the hope that no external interest groups and power centres can hold sway on national politics, that were the case for a long time. Speaking at the Central Committee meeting, Oli said that a strong sense of unity has been demonstrated during the meeting. As the party unity is attached to the broader aspirations of the people, it will get further consolidated in the days to come. The meeting has directed the government to take measures to contain the threat of coronavirus outbreak, take diplomatic steps to resolve the territorial issue with India and to work to ensure the safety and security of Nepali migrant workers.