By Sampada A. Khatiwada
Kathmandu, Mar. 10: Following the Supreme Court's decision, the Election Commission has reinstated the unified CPN-UML and NCP (Maoist Centre) to their individual status.
Issuing a press statement on Tuesday regarding the decisions taken by the Commission in order to implement the SC's order dated March 7, the EC said, "In line with the Top Court's decision, the Commission has decided to regard the unified Nepal Communist Party as separate parties like they were prior to June 6, 2018." The EC has decided to publish the same in Nepal Gazette.
Likewise, the Commission has also decided to dismiss the notice published in the Nepal Gazette on June 6, 2018, regarding the unification of CPN-UML and NCP (Maoist Centre) as a unified party.
As per the SC's decision to quash the Nepal Communist Party merger, the Commission has further decided to inform chairman of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli and chairman of NCP Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' about the dismissal of the NCP registered in the Commission under registration number 145.
Stating that the CPN-UML with registration number 32 and NCP (Maoist Centre) with registration number 37 were now reinstated as separate political parties as they were prior to the unification, the EC urged Gopal Kiranti, chairman of NCP (Maoist Centre) registered under no. 153 to change the party name and election symbol, and Sandhya Tiwari, chairperson of   CPN-UML registered under no. 160, to change her party name within 15 days and submit the details of the same to the Commission as per Section 6 (1) (e) of the Act relating to Political Parties, 2073 and Rule 9 of Political Parties Rules, 2074.
Similarly, the Commission has decided to inform the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Kathmandu, all Provincial Assembly Secretariats, and election offices of all districts about the individual status of the CPN-UML and NCP (Maoist Centre) and dismissal of the unified NCP. Furthermore, the Commission said that if the CPN-UML and the NCP (Maoist Centre) wanted to unite again, both the parties may file an application to the Commission with a new proposed name and symbol along with the copies of the decision of the central committee meeting of their respective parties in line with the Act relating to Political Parties, 2073 and Rules 2074.
Passing the verdict on the settlement of claim to the name 'Nepal Communist Party' on Sunday, a joint bench of Justices Bam Kumar Shrestha and Kumar Regmi in the SC had decided to authenticate Rishi Ram Kattel-led party as NCP.
Kattel had filed a petition in 2018 at the SC against the NCP chaired by KP Sharma Oli, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' following the unification between the then CPN-UML and NCP (Maoist Centre) stating that the registration at the EC of the unified party as NCP was against the laws as he had already registered his party with the same name earlier at the EC.