Chaos will ensue if Prachanda's orders are disregarded: Bhatta

Kathmandu: Khagaraj Bhatta, a member of the Sudurpaschim Province Assembly and the Maoist Center Standing Committee, said he is waiting for Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda's decision to restore him to his position as the legislative party's leader to be put into effect. Since a majority of members ousted Bhatta as the legislative party's leader in January, the Maoist Center in Sudurpaschim province has been engulfed in turmoil.

In an attempt to find a solution, Chairman Prachanda invited Bhatta and other leaders of the Maoist Sudurpaschim Parliamentary Party, including Man Bahadur Dhami, Maoist Sudurpaschim Parliamentary Party leader, Girirajmani Pokharel, Maoist Sudurpaschim Province in-charge, co-incharge Bina Magar, and Maoist Sudurpaschim Chairman Hariram Chaudhary, for talks on Tuesday. According to Bhatta, throughout the three-hour meeting Prachanda instructed for Bhatta's reappointment as the head of the parliamentary party and stressed support for ministers serving in the cabinet. Bhatta underlined that everyone ought to follow Prachanda's instructions.

"The chairman has given me the go-ahead to take back the position of party leader. He directed that the party head be replaced and that the ministries be continuously supported. As for Prachanda's concerns, those are about the deal not being followed or carried out, Bhatta said.

He warned that pandemonium would be unleashed if the chairman's orders were disregarded.