Dispute Lingers in NRNA After Unification Talks; Candidates Emerge for Leadership

The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), which was divided into two factions, was unified under the mediation of Prime Minister Sushila Karki in the second week of Mangsir. Although the unity was forged based on a 10-point agreement between the Badri KC and Mahesh Shrestha factions, problems persist between the two groups.

The core issue remains the disagreement over how to conduct the unified general convention. While Mahesh Shrestha favors a unified convention, some activists close to him state that holding the convention in the current state, from Falgun 30 to Chaitra 2, would be unacceptable to them.

NRNA activist Dr. Keshav Poudel stated that the current necessity is for an election with physical presence, warning that if they try to push through an election in the current situation, they will not accept it. He accused the Badri KC faction of trying to move forward by overriding the 11-member steering committee formed to facilitate the unified convention.

 He has put forward three main agendas for institutional reform in the current situation. These include the management of National Coordination Councils (NCCs), transparent criteria for delegate selection, and voting through physical presence.

According to Poudel, there are currently two to three parallel NCCs active in many countries. He stated that holding a central election without legally adjusting these NCCs and resolving disputes would be meaningless. The second important issue is delegate selection. He insisted that they cannot move forward without a concrete agreement on how to select representatives who will vote—whether all members can vote or if delegates will be determined based on specific criteria. The most contentious issue has become the election system. Poudel maintained that the upcoming election must be conducted entirely through physical presence. 

He stated that online voting marginalizes genuine activists and increases the tendency to seize leadership by using individuals who have been inactive for years, adding that if their demands are not met, they will not participate in the general convention.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has suggested holding the general convention with as much physical presence as possible, and arranging for online participation for those unable to attend physically. Despite this suggestion from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NRNA activists understand that the voting for the new leadership will still be held online. But Poudel clarifies that their stance is that physical presence means voting must also be done via ballot papers. 

Activists close to Mahesh Shrestha, including BR Lama and Gangadhar Gautam, share a similar view to Poudel.

However, the Badri KC faction insists that they should not deviate from the provisions currently in the statute under any circumstances. During a discussion held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs some time ago, Vice President Hemraj Sharma stated that since the statute includes provisions for online voting, deviating from it could lead to legal challenges.

Against this backdrop, two individuals have announced their candidacy for the presidency as the NRNA unified general convention is set to take place. Current Vice President Hemraj Sharma and Robin Sherchan have announced their candidacies. While Sharma supports online elections, Sherchan has emphasized the need to move forward by understanding the sentiments of the dissenting faction. Furthermore, he committed to playing a mediating role to unite everyone.

Presenting himself as a consensus candidate, Sherchan mentioned that the NRNA is a common institution for all non-resident Nepalis, not for any specific group or political party. He expressed concern that the tug-of-war at the leadership level is negatively affecting non-resident Nepalis at the grassroots level, leading to growing disillusionment with the institution itself.

Sherchan said, 'In the current situation, the leadership must prioritize the interest of the institution and the future of all non-resident Nepalis over their personal positions. Robin Sherchan is moving forward with the belief that the institution must be saved, not belonging to any faction or party.' He stated that he is in favor of becoming a 'consensus candidate' who unites everyone and incorporates everyone's feelings.

Stating that his main goal is to save the institution from division, he warned that if an agreement cannot be reached this time and the institution moves towards division again, the very existence of the NRNA will end. His plan is to continuously discuss with both the Badri KC and Mahesh Shrestha factions to resolve disputes and move forward by coordinating with other factions as needed.

'Division benefits no one; it only weakens the institution,' Sherchan added. 'Therefore, I urge all friends to set aside their personal interests and strive to save the existence of the institution. I will take every possible initiative to bring both factions to a middle path.'

While the general convention remains uncertain due to the clash between the two groups, activists believe that Sherchan's proactiveness might lead to a formula for resolution.