Deuba faction opposes key proposals as NC meeting resumes

Kathmandu, August 23 - The Nepali Congress Central Working Committee is scheduled to meet today, resuming a session originally postponed from August 12. The meeting, which began on August 7, continues to discuss 11 different proposed topics.

Internal party politics has intensified due to proposals from General Secretary duo Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma. The central working committee's session was halted for 11 days after President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s faction opposed Thapa’s proposal against forming an electoral alliance and Sharma’s proposal to limit the terms for Prime Ministers, Ministers, and MPs.

The delay in the meeting is believed to be a strategic move by Deuba's camp to undermine Thapa's proposal. During the August 9 meeting, Central Committee member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana also opposed Sharma’s proposal, arguing that limiting the number of times someone can become Prime Minister could prevent the party president Deuba from holding the position again.

There is now interest among Congress members about whether the meeting will approve a proposal by Sharma to be enshrined in the party constitution that one cannot serve more than once as President, twice as Prime Minister, three times as Minister, and four times as MP. Some argue that passing such a provision could weaken Deuba's influence within the party.

The party establishment is also opposing Gagan Thapa’s proposal of not forging electoral alliance with any party in the next election.

Leaders from Deuba’s faction, including Bimalendra Nidhi, spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat, NP Saud, Ramesh Lekhak, and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, have expressed their opposition to both General Secretaries’ proposals.

The current dispute dates back to the Mahasamiti meeting held in Godawari, Lalitpur, in February. The Mahasamiti's inability to reach a concrete decision exacerbated the issue, which was then referred back to the central committee.

Despite promises that the central committee would pass reports with amendments addressing issues raised in the Mahasamiti meeting, no agreement has been reached over the past five months. As a result, Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka’s policy proposals, General Secretary Thapa’s organizational proposals, and General Secretary Sharma’s contemporary political proposals remain unapproved.

The establishment faction continues to push for passing both General Secretaries' proposals with amendments.