KATHMANDU – It has been revealed that two Chief Whips of both factions of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) are enjoying benefits and services from the federal parliament secretariat.
According to Federal Parliament Secretariat’ Spokesperson Rojnath Panday, both Dev Gurung and Bishal Bhattarai of the same party NCP are getting benefits and facilities of the Chief Whip of the ruling party including vehicle, fuel, salary and allowances.
Earlier on February 26, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is also the parliamentary party leader of the NCP, had removed party’s Chief Whip Dev Gurung and appointed Bishal Bhattarai as the new Chief Whip.
Gurung was ousted from the post of Chief Whip after he sided with the NCP led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Madhav Kumar Nepal faction. Though Oli-led NCP had replaced Gurung with Bhattarai as the Chief Whip, Prachanda-Nepal faction has been challenging the decision.
As both factions have separate claims as the party’s official Chief Whip, the Parliamentary Secretariat has been providing facilities and services of the Chief Whip to both Gurung and Bhattarai.
Spokesperson Pandey said that the Federal Parliament Secretariat will treat the NCP as one party.
Stating that the Federal Parliament Secretariat will act in accordance to the decision of the Election Commission on the matter related to a dispute over any party.
“Legally, there is only one Chief Whip of the ruling party. The Parliament Secretariat has not made any different opinion,” said Pandey.
“Both old and new Chief Whip are getting the facility. We have to understand it in a technical way. This happens in a transition period. We are waiting for the decision of the Election Commission,” he added.
