CPN Leader States No Central Directive on Karnali Government Formation

Surkhet. The Nepali Communist Party (NCP), which proposed Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Jeevan Bahadur Shahi as Chief Minister in Karnali, has stated that no directive has been received from the party center yet. Leaders of the NCP Karnali province say that although there is talk of an alliance between the NCP and UML at the central leadership level, no decision or directive has been received from the party center regarding the government alliance so far. NCP Karnali Province Parliamentary Party leader Mangal Bahadur Shahi said that it has not been said from the center to cooperate with this party yet. 'I haven't discussed this with the coordinator yet. I haven't been to Kathmandu, I'm in Surkhet,' he said. He stated that although there is talk that Prachanda has given instructions to move forward with cooperation with UML as much as possible, that has not reached him. 'I don't think the center has given full instructions. I have not received any information about this from other provincial leaders either,' he added, 'The discussion about the government alliance with UML and the communist unity is going on not only in Karnali but across the country. This is a positive thing, but the main thing is the outcome.' Shahi said that past discussions with UML and their achievements have not been good. He said, 'Nothing happens before and after, now communist unity is being discussed, if it happens, it should be with a pure heart. In the past, such attempts have been dissolved negatively two-three times. This is not a matter to be finalized by sitting in a room overnight. It requires a review of the past, future plans, and written commitments.' Last Thursday in Karnali, the Congress, in alliance with the NCP, registered a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister. However, central leaders of the NCP are writing on social media that the NCP is currently not in power and that the decision in the province is not correct. Two factions are seen within the NCP regarding power. Some say that the NCP in Karnali did not coordinate with the party center when participating in the no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister. However, party leader Shahi claimed that coordination was naturally done when making such a big decision. 'How right it is for central leaders to write such things on social media is a separate question,' he said, 'The party has its own system and process, if our work is not done according to the system, it should be discussed in the party meeting.' He also said that no central leader has written that the decision in Karnali was wrong or spoiled. Rather, he said, the wish is that the debate on communist unity should not be spoiled. 'We are not in a hurry to gain power. It is natural for someone to feel that there is haste, but this is a product of the situation,' Shahi added, 'When the Congress and UML had friction and the Congress withdrew from the government, a power crisis arose in Karnali. Congress ministers resigned and the Chief Minister accepted them. Congress did not show willingness to send new ministers.' Shahi says that the NCP took the initiative to form the government to provide a way out in such a situation. He said that this should not be understood only as a rush for power. 'We have taken this step after looking at the objective situation in Karnali,' he added. When asked what would happen if an alliance was formed with UML at the center, Shahi said, 'This is just speculation now. Only after the center makes a decision tomorrow will we decide what to do. Let's not imagine any outcome based on speculation.'