Chandra Dhakal Warns Incoming FNCCI President Against Factionalism Ahead of Elections

As the election fervor for the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) intensifies, a recent public statement by the current President, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, has created a new ripple in the politics of the private sector. With two distinct panels set to contest the elections scheduled for next week, President Dhakal warned the future President (currently Senior Vice President) Anjan Shrestha against engaging in 'factionalism' and urged him to remain 'neutral'.

According to the FNCCI statute, the Senior Vice President automatically becomes the President. Anjan Shrestha is the 'confirmed' President for the upcoming term. However, President Dhakal commented that Shrestha's alleged formation of his own panel behind the scenes and active campaigning was contrary to the spirit of the statute.

President Dhakal recalled the rationale behind the system where the Senior Vice President automatically ascends to the presidency, questioning the integrity of the leadership. His implication is that while this arrangement was intended to ensure a smooth leadership transition and select an uncontroversial individual for the top post, it is currently being misused.

He stated, 'This Senior Vice President system was established to prepare a leader, and for that leader who automatically becomes President, to be neutral. But now, given how neutrality and preparation are being handled, what do you expect when the Senior VP himself prepares a pamphlet saying 'this is my side'?'

According to Dhakal, Anjan Shrestha has been circulating pamphlets supporting a specific group in the election. This has raised significant doubts about internal democracy within the Federation and the impartiality of the upcoming leadership.

Dhakal, who has maintained a stance favoring consensus and a parental role until now, warned that he would not remain silent if the future President does not abandon factionalism. He urged future President Shrestha not to become a leader of one faction, giving an 'ultimatum' that if he does, Dhakal will openly support the other faction.

He said, 'I will still favor consensus for a few more days. But rest assured, if he declares 'this is my panel,' I will openly support your side as well.'

It appears the FNCCI election is no longer just a contest among ordinary members or executive committee members, but could also become a battle of prestige between the current and future presidents. President Dhakal claimed that the main five agendas raised by the Federation during his three-year tenure have been fully achieved.

He presented a list of his successes in a sarcastic tone, suggesting that there are no new agendas left for the next executive committee to raise. He stated, 'When I took the oath three years ago, I mentioned 5 things. All 5 of those things are complete. When you come to the executive committee now, after the office bearers are in place, you won't have an agenda because all the agendas we were supposed to raise have been completed in this tenure.'

He considers the government cabinet's approval of the 'Private Sector Protection and Promotion Strategy' as the biggest achievement of his tenure. He noted that in such a situation, the challenge for the new leadership is what issues they will take forward.

Mentioning the context of the country having a powerful government with nearly a two-thirds majority, President Dhakal stated that it is unfortunate for the private sector to be divided at such a time. He emphasized that the strength of the Federation lies in its unity and that factionalism by the leadership weakens the 'bargaining power' with the government.