Ruling NCP's Standing Committee meeting postponed until further notice

KATHMANDU, July 28: The Standing Committee meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has been postponed until further notice.

The crucial party meeting, which has been postponed time and again owing to serious rift primarily between chairpersons KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal, was scheduled to be held at 11AM today. This is the eighth time in the past one month the meeting has been deferred.

Issuing a press statement, the NCP headquarters stated that the meeting has been postponed as the party's Secretariat has yet to finalize proposals for the Standing Committee meeting. The press statement also said that the two chairpersons are still in consultation and doing homework for the same.

Related story

UML Standing Committee put off sine die

The date for the stalled Standing Committee meeting will be decided after consultation between the two chairmen of the party, according to the press statement. The party headquarters has not said anything about when the upcoming Standing Committee meeting will take place.

The meeting of the NCP has been postponed time and again as the top leaders of the party work on resolving intra-party disputes over power sharing.

The Standing Committee meeting was first called for June 24 amid growing intra-party dispute after a rival faction led by Chairman Dahal sought immediate resignation of Prime Minister Oli. Since then the meeting has been deferred repeatedly as top leaders have failed to reach consensus on a power-sharing deal within the party.

Earlier on July 17, NCP chairperson Oli had proposed holding the party's general convention in mid-December. However, the Dahal-led faction has rejected the proposal saying that the general convention will not be held under current circumstances. The faction has perceived Oli's fresh proposal as "another card" to retain himself both as Prime Minister and party president.

NCP insiders said the new proposal could save Prime Minister Oli in power as Chairman Dahal, who is looking to be the party's chairman with all powers, is positive about the prime minister's proposal.