Split imminent in NCP as Oli forms committee

Kathmandu, December 22

The ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) on Tuesday appeared to be headed for a split after the warring factions held separate central committee meetings, with Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli announcing a new 1,199-member party committee to organise the party's general convention in an effort to strengthen his hold on it.

Oli, who is also one of the two chairmen of the ruling party, announced the new committee during a meeting of the members close to him at Baluwatar, the Kathmandu Post reported.

Nearly two-thirds of the 446 members of the Central Committee of the party were present in the Prachanda-led faction's meeting. However, a formal split of the party is yet to be announced. Both factions of the party have intensified efforts to retain official party recognition along with the election symbol. The two factions are now busy making strategies to wrest control of the party. — PTI