By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Feb. 26: At a time when both rival factions of the Nepal Communist Party are in race to woo the Nepali Congress leaders with an offer of power sharing in the new political development, the Nepali Congress has decided not join any of the faction until their legal status becomes clear.
A meeting of the former and sitting office bearers of the party held at Budhanilkantha-based residence of its president Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday decided not to work with either NCP faction immediately.
Stating that the NCP is still a single party legally, the NC concluded not to cooperate with any of the faction until the issue of authentic NCP gets resolved.
The meeting decided to observe the activities of both factions minutely.
The NCP has been divided into two factions, one led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and another jointly led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Madhav Kumar Nepal, after the dissolution of the House of Representatives, which the Supreme Court reinstated on Tuesday.
The NC said it would decide to support one of the NCP factions or form the government under its own leadership only after the end of the current confusion regarding authenticity of the NCP.
It said the support of NC would depend on the Election Commission’s decision or after the formation of the two separate parties.
The party said it would look the activities of both sides closely until the HoR meeting convenes by March 8.
In the meeting, party president Deuba asked the leaders to give the views over the offer of co-work from both the factions.
After the meeting, NC senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel stressed the need for forwarding the parliamentary process for NC’s decision. He said the Supreme Court had averted a big crisis in the country by reinstating the HoR.
He said the NC should forward its move after the HoR meeting convenes.
Paudel informed a decision would be taken on whether to remain in opposition bench or support the party for formation of the government.
After the meeting, NC joint general secretary Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat informed that the NC would not support any of the NCP faction until the NCP remains legally a single party.
“Legally, the NCP is still single. Its parliamentary party leader is Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. So we do not think about supporting any group or joining the government,” he said.
Dr. Mahat informed the NC would take a mature decision in appropriate time.