KATHMANDU, June 7: The ruling Nepal Communist Party leaders are still unable to finalize the work division of the central leaders as they continue to dispute over one-leader-one-position idea. 

Efforts to appoint in-charges and their deputies in 77 districts have been futile despite a continuous three-day discussion after leaders remained divided over whether to give party responsibilities to those who already hold government positions.  

“Discussions are underway to finalize the criteria to pick district in-charges and their deputies,” said NCP spokesman Narayankaji Shrestha emerging from the meeting, “The chairmen have informed us that more discussion is needed before any appointments can be made.” 

Secretariat members had been trying to appoint district in-charges and name politburo members to complete the ongoing party merger process.  But the nomination process hit a snag after senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal strongly demanded that those holding positions in the government mustn’t be given key roles in the party while party chairman and Prime Minister KP Oli opposed the idea.

According to leaders, another chairman of the party, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, remained silent on the issue.

Dispute over work division of central leaders is likely to stay for a while as Chairman Oli, who is also the prime minister, is preparing to leave for an eight-day visit to three European nations - Switzerland, United Kingdom and France starting June 8. 

“The work division issue will be discussed once the prime minister returns from Europe,” said leader Shrestha.

The ruling party’s grassroots units are inactive since the merger of the then CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) a year ago. So far, the party has named provincial in-charges, chiefs and secretaries and district committees but has failed to name the in-charges and deputy in-charges of the district committees.

The merger process has been affected after some of the party’s senior leaders have already been holding dual positions.

 
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