Oli visits Gautam’s residence

Kathmandu, July 28- Chairman and Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli has reached the residence of Vice-chairman Bam Dev Gautam in Bhainsepai Tuesday evening.

“He has gone to Gautam residence with his wife Radhika Shakya,” a source close to PM Oli confirmed with nepalijanta. “This is a family meeting, not a political one.”

CPN General Secretary Bishnu Paudel, who is Gautam’s neighbor, is also present.

Oli has been holding political meetings at his residence in Baluwatar since becoming PM. The only place he visits for meetings is the President’s Office as the protocol doesn’t allow the president to visit the PM for work-related meetings.

Oli’s meeting with Gautam amidst escalating internal dispute is considered meaningful particularly after Gautam gave a six-point advice to the warring chairmen that largely favors Oli to stop the internal dispute in the party earlier on the day.

Gautam has proposed that KP Sharma Oli should serve the full term as prime minister (PM), Oli also should remain chairman until the next general convention, and the general convention should be held in consensus.

He has proposed that Pushpa Kamal Dahal should remain chairman with all the executive rights until the general convention.

He has proposed that the party should not unnecessarily intervene in the work of PM but advised that the secretariat should be consulted before decision on issues of international importance. He has also proposed Cabinet reshuffle.

“Reshuffle of the Cabinet, and political and constitutional appointments should be done on recommendation and consultation of the party secretariat. The secretariat should be consulted before presenting the government’s policies and programs and the budget to the House,” he has suggested.

He has also advised that party meetings should not be held in the PM’s residence. “Party meetings from now onward should be held at the party office.”

The latest proposal appears another volte-face by Gautam who has been switching camps in the past few years. Oli had proposed to make Gautam the PM to break the alliance against him in April end when he was similarly in a tight spot.

But he later reneged on the promise and Gautam had returned back to the anti-Oli alliance. What prompted the latest change of heart in Gautam has yet to be known.