Nepali Congress appointments: Deuba expanding departments in installments

Kathmandu, October 10 — On August 6, Umesh Jung Rayamajhi was appointed as the head of the Sports Department of the Nepali Congress. Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba assigned him and 37 others departmental responsibilities.

Rayamajhi's department received additional members only on Tuesday. After two months, President Deuba appointed 10 more members to his department, indicating that it is still not fully complete.

On September 3, President Deuba also added members to the Agriculture and Farmer's Department, led by central committee member Umesh Shrestha. However, the situation remained the same, with only 10 members allowed in this department as well. On September 28, he appointed members to the Education Department, led by Nainsingh Mahar, but again, only 10 were added.

These are just a few examples. The departments of the ruling coalition party, Nepali Congress, are experiencing delays in formation, which should align with the party's constitution. The responsibility for forming these departments rests with President Sher Bahadur Deuba, but he has been expanding them in installments.

Article 37 of the party's constitution addresses departmental organization. The Congress has increased the number of departments from 48 to 72, but only 56 have been formed so far.

According to the constitution, departments should be formed within six months of the completion of the general convention. Deuba was elected president at the 14th general convention in December 2021, yet he appointed 37 department heads only on August 6.

Although departments were formed after about two and a half years, none have reached full capacity. Each department is supposed to have 51 members. Under the leadership of central members, Deuba has appointed only 10 members per department. Despite ongoing appointments, no department has reported more than 10 members.

Min Bhishwakarma, head of the party's publicity department, acknowledges the delays in department formation and the ongoing efforts to complete them in installments.

"We have requested names from the district and province committees for those who will be in the departments. We've also asked leaders at the center for names," Bhishwakarma said. "Due to delays in receiving names from below, we proceeded with the appointments despite only having 10 members."

According to the constitution, the party president, Sher Bahadur Deuba, has the authority to appoint department heads, deputy heads, one secretary, and members. It states that to be appointed as deputy heads, secretaries, or members, individuals must be active members of the Nepali Congress. The selection must consider inclusive principles.

"The appointment to the departments will be based on party members' interests, expertise, experience, and contributions to the party," the constitution states.

Each department is required to hold meetings at least once every two months. Additionally, every six months, departments must submit progress reports of their activities to the central committee.

"Each department will monitor and evaluate the arrangements in current laws and the constitution, government policies formulated by Nepal, and inform the central committee about necessary party policies and actions," the constitution specifies regarding departmental duties.

Departments becoming active

Although President Deuba delayed forming departments, those that have been established are actively working. Some departments are focusing on issues and engaging with the public on relevant topics.

Notably, the publicity department led by Min Bhishwakarma, the education department coordinated by central committee member Nainsingh Mahar, the local level coordination department led by central committee member Madhu Acharya, the environment and climate change department led by Kalyan Gurung, the supply and consumer department headed by Guru Baral, and the professional and intellectual department led by Dr. Dila Sangroula are fulfilling their responsibilities.

"After appointing many colleagues to responsibilities, they have become active. It now feels like a delay in timely department formation," Bhishwakarma says.

The education department is focusing on developing future education policies for schools and universities.

The local level coordination department led by central committee member Madhu Acharya honored local leaders for their outstanding work on September 10. Under the department's initiative, 20 individuals who were elected from the Congress in the 2022 local elections and performed excellently were honored by the president.

The environment and climate change department, led by Kalyan Kumar Gurung, organized a cleanup program to collect plastic and waste brought by the floods from September 27 to 29. They also conducted a cleanliness drive near the Guhyeshwari Temple on October 7 and organized a cleanup of the party office.

The professional and intellectual department led by central member Dr. Dila Sangroula held a discussion on "B.P.'s Socialism and the Role of Intellectuals" on September 10, coinciding with Constitution Day and the 111th birthday anniversary.

The supply and consumer department, headed by central committee member Guru Baral, has consistently drawn the government's attention to control price increases.

Even during the fuel transport strike by tanker operators, they raised issues with the government. They also called for controls on the rise in air fares during disasters and addressed the need to stop price hikes, black marketing, and adulteration during festivals, organizing discussions with Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh, and Industry, Commerce, and Supply Minister Damodar Bhandari.