Kathmandu: Bringing the differences in the
Maoist leadership to the fore, party chief Prachanda has
claimed that India favours his second-in-command Baburam
Bhattarai for Nepal's prime ministership, prompting the latter
to hit back at him.
Prachanda said in a programme in Kathmandu last week that
India wants to make Bhattarai the Prime Minister of Nepal and
has been "putting pressure" in this regard.
Bhattarai has slammed the party supremo's statement.
"It is an attempt to assassinate my character," Bhattarai
told reporters after the party's central committee meeting
yesterday. The Maoist number two leader also lodged a strong
protest against Prachanda's remarks during the meeting, the
Republica daily reported quoting party sources.
"Why don't you tell others when some Indian leaders have
also proposed your (Prachanda's) name as the next Prime
Minister candidate," Bhattarai is reported to have said.
Meanwhile, Maoist spokesman Dinanath Sharma has alleged
that India was trying to create a division within the party by
backing one against the other.
"It is a game plan of India to play one leader against
the other," Sharma said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 06, 2010, 16:38