PM Oli accuses Dahal of investing in media to erode credibility of party leadership

Kathmandu / Jan 1: Prime Minister KP Oli has accused executive chairman of the recently-split Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal of investing in media and running media through relatives to erode his credibility.

Addressing a virtual meeting of the leaders of the party’s Pravasi Ekta Manch – a liaison committee – in various countries on Friday, Prime Minister Oli said that Dahal was involved in such an act out of the thinking that he could establish himself only after eroding credibility of the party’s leadership. He complained that those media were used to continuously erode his credibility as the party chairman and the prime minister.

Prime Minister Oli, however, did not mention which media owned by Dahal or close to Dahal were eroding his credibility.

Addressing the virtual meeting, Prime Minister Oli also said that the party’s leaders did not cooperate with the government in the past three years of his government. He also said that he could not change Dahal’s habit even though he left no stone unturned to do so.

Prime Minister Oli also claimed that the party had not split, but only a few persons had chosen to walk away from the party. He argued that he would not visit the Election Commission seeking official recognition as they rightfully own the NCP.

Prime Minister Oli tried to justify his move saying that he had to take the decision to seek a fresh mandate of the people to safeguard the constitution. “I faced a situation where I had to go to the people for a fresh mandate to safeguard the constitution and the political system,” he said. “This election is for safeguarding the constitution and the political system. But they [ Dahal and Madhav Nepal] are saying that this is unconstitutional.”