For the ruling Nepal Communist Party and its government, the COVID-19 pandemic has largely been a non-issue. While the government’s response to the virus has been lacklustre, for the party, its internal dispute has remained more important than the disease that has so far claimed 336 lives in the country. The number of cases has already crossed the 50,000 mark.

The party on Friday declared that it has escaped a split. And in doing so, it took more than seven weeks—the crucial period during which coronavirus cases continued to rise.

“Though the COVID-19 issue was listed as the second agenda when the Standing Committee meeting started on June 24, it was rarely discussed in the 80 days, except on some rare occasions,” said Ganesh Sah, a Standing Committee member and former minister for science and technology. “There was a lack of seriousness as leaders were more focused on their individual interests.”

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