The increasing rift and animosity inside the UCPN (Maoist) reached a new level on Friday after the party's radical faction led by party vice chairman Mohan Baidya demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who is also vice chairman of the party, over the withdrawal of the government decision to legalise conflict-time land and property transactions carried out by the parallel government of the Maoist party.

During the Standing Committee meeting of the Maoist party that resumed on Friday morning to resolve the differences seen inside the party after Thursday's cabinet decision to annul the land deals, Maoist leaders close to party hardliner faction engaged in scathing criticism of PM Bhattarai and demanded that he step down for failing to stick by the decision taken by the Maoist "people's government" and "surrendering before the landlords".

However, the establishment faction led by party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Bhattarai said the difficult decision to revoke conflict-era land deals was taken under compulsion following intense pressure from the opposition parties.

Meanwhile, the meeting held at the party headquarters in Koteshwor also decided to intensify discussions with opposition as well as fringe parties for the formation of a national consensus government at the earliest and gave Dahal the responsibility to take initiations in that regard. nepalnews.com