A rift is growing within the Nepali Congress between the leaders and grassroots party activists. This division is expected to widen further if nothing is done to control it. According to a source, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is getting ready to sideline all party leaders who do not agree with him or with his style of functioning. People and leaders who are going to be thus shunted aside are Sher Bahadur Deuba, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Chiranjivi Wagle, Ram Sharan Mahat, Bijay Kumar Gachhedar, Bal Bahadur KC and Purna Bahadur Khadka. Koirala has created a situation in which the future of these bigwigs is going to be very shaky.

Right after Bhattarai returned from his visit to India, Koirala went back on his promise of one person-one post and announced his candidature for party leadership. Koirala has always been taking Bhattarai for a ride. Recently the 40th meeting of the party's central committee was held. Everyone expected the problems present in the party to be addressed, if not solved. But Koirala only served the participants with samosas and tea and sent them back empty-handed.