Maoist clash with each other, plenum resumes again

KATHMANDU:The ongoing seventh plenum of the UCPN Maoist was disrupted after supporters of Prime Minister and party vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai and party chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal clashed with each other and even tried to trash out the duo.

Maoist leader Janardhan Sharma ‘Prabhakar’ attempted to beat PM Bhattarai accusing him of starting groupism within the party. This attempt was foiled by other leaders present on the stage, but nonetheless made the situation in the hall tense.

The meeting was temporarily suspended for some time and Prachanda was attacked with a chair by a Bhattarai supporter when he was getting out of the hall.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

The closed session of the plenum had started at around 12 o’clock noon. Represenetatives from the party’s state committee’s were to comment on the Chairman’s proposal. Balidan Shah (aligned to Bhattarai) from Bhojupura State Committee was called on stage for commenting but Dahal supporters hooted against Shah demanding that Ashok Jaiswal (aligned to Prachnda) be provided the first opportunity to speak. Bhattarai factions leaders argued that Shah be allowed to comment as he had already started but Jaiswal’s supporters denied to stay calm.

Bhattarai and Devendra Paudel objected against the disruption created while leaders aligned to them were expressing their comment. They demanded that the culture of stopping cadres from speaking be stopped. However, Prachanda favorite Janardhan Sharma aka Prabhakar who was also sitting next to Bhattarai, yelled out at Bhattarai blaming of starting factionalism within the party and even tried strike a blow at him. However Paudel and Dilla ram Acharaya averted Bhattarai from receiving the punch on his face.

Seeing that their leader and PM was being hit, Bhattarai supporters also attacked Prachanda with chairs. But he too was saved from those chars by supporters. Coordinator Post Bahadur Bogati called off the meeting for some time. Some party cadres who were thought to be independent even tired to block Pracnda, Naryan Kaji, Mahara, and other senior leaders in a room accusing them of escalating factionalism within the party.

MEETING RESUMES

After a brief discussion between senior leadership, the plenum of the UCPN Maoist has resume once again.