Convention uncertain even in districts of NC’s presidential aspirants

KATHMANDU: Though the ruling Nepali Congress (NC)’s 14th General Convention formally kicked off on 

September 3 by holding ward-level conventions, one of the oldest parties of the country is yet to resolve active membership disputes in 21 districts. 

A committee headed by Krishna Prasad Sitaula is still waiting for the details of active members from those districts which could not hold ward conventions on the scheduled date. 

Two other members of the committee include Minendra Rijal and Ramesh Lekhak. Three of them said that the active membership row was settled following a ‘theoretical consensus. 

As all three members of the committee have taken two-day leave, publishing names of active members in 21 districts including Dadeldhura, President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s home district, has remained uncertain. 

Rijal and Lekhak returned from their home districts. However, Sitaula is preparing to make it to his home district, Jhapa on Monday. 

The committee was supposed to publish the electoral roll of Dadeldhura and Kapilvastu on Saturday. However, the unavailability of two members impacted the schedule.

Talking to Ratopati, Sitaula said that the committee asked the Active Membership Probe Committee to implement the decisions after their theoretical consensus. The probe committee is holding a meeting on Sunday afternoon. 

Ward-level conventions took place on the scheduled date in the districts of Ram Chandra Poudel (Tanahu) and Gopal Man Shrestha (Syangja) though there are nearly one dozen aspirants for the presidential position. 

Convention in the districts of most presidential aspirants falls uncertain. Congress is yet to publish the list of active members in Province 1’s Morang, the home district of aspirants duo:  Shekhar Koirala and  Sujata Koirala. 

Similarly, active membership row in all eight districts of Province 2 has remained unresolved. The convention is yet to begin formally in the province of Bimalendra Nidhi, who formally announced to vie for the presidential position. 

Kathmandu, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre and Rasuwa (Bagmati Province) are yet to formally begin 14th General Convention amidst the active membership row. Prakash Man Singh, one of the aspirants for the presidential position belongs to Kathmandu district where ward conventions are still uncertain. 

Ward conventions failed to kick off on a scheduled date in three districts in Lumbini Province (Kapilvastu, Banke and Bardiya) and two in Karnali (Dolpa and Surkhet). 

As Kailali, Bajura and Dadeldhura fail to settle the membership disputes, ward convention has fallen in limbo. 

Ward conventions held in 38 districts 

The ruling party has so far held war-level conventions in 38 districts as of Sunday afternoon. According to the information disseminated by the party’s election committee, most wards elect leadership anonymously. 

List of distractions where ward conventions have been concluded 

Province 1: Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Bhojpur, Khotang, Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Udayapur, Jhapa and Dhankuta

Bagmati Province: Dolakha, Sindhuli, Makwanpur and Bhaktapur 

Gandaki Province: Gorakha, Lamjung, Tanahun, Kaski, Manang, Mustang, Parbat, Syangja and Myagdi 

Lumbini Province: Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi and Dang 

Karnali Province: Rukum West, Jumla, Humla, Jajarkot and Dailekh 

Sudur Paschim Province: Bajhang, Doti, Achham and Kanchanpur 

Ward conventions to be held in these districts between Monday and Wednesday

Monday (Sept 6): Sunsaru, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Baglung, Nawalpur, Lalitpur, Palpa, Salyan and Mugu 

Tuesday: Gulmi, Pyuthan, Kalikot, Darchula and Baitadi 

Wednesday: Rolpa and Ramechhap