Nepali Congress Discusses Internal Differences and Future Strategy

Nepali Congress is the oldest and largest democratic party in the country. Differences of opinion can be freely expressed in a democratic party. It is natural for the party's system, which allows for open expression of opinions, to come under public 'notice'. Accordingly, internal matters of the Congress are being revealed. Due to the greater democratic practice within the Congress, internal disputes or conflicts often come to the fore and become news in the media.

In a democratic party, differences of opinion are given dignity and respect. Such practice is rare in parties with other ideologies. Therefore, in our party, Nepali Congress, leaders and members express their views and dissatisfaction openly, and these issues are widely publicized through the media.

It is natural to have different opinions within the party on any issue. Without different opinions, the truth cannot be tested. It is better to understand differences of opinion not as disputes but as different opinions, different perspectives. We understand the freedom to hold different opinions as freedom.

These kinds of perspectives have been made public from time to time, even before the issue of a special convention or regular convention arose within the Congress. Sometimes, agendas and different opinions help the party move forward and become progressive. We have been saying that after the movement of 2062/063, the party needs to be rebuilt, the party needs to change with the times, the party needs to become what the people expect, the party needs to change with the demands of the time, and it needs to be modernized. The recent movement on Bhadra 23 and 24 has proven that the party has not become what the people expect.

निर्वाचनपछि पुराना ४ दलमा कचिङ्गल बढ्दो

The public has been raising the issue that parties need to change and transform with the times. However, when the party did not seem to be changing, in the process of finding a way to force change, we, the convention representatives of the party, united and raised the issue of a special convention. We united 2,488 convention representatives, collected signatures, and started a campaign to make the party what the people envision and desire by bringing about policy changes, leadership changes, and fundamental reforms.

We took the support of the legal process to make our campaign successful. Some leaders of the party disagreed with our campaign at that time. At that time, the leaders who disagreed said that a special convention should not happen, while we insisted that a regular convention should be held at the time we specified, or else a special convention must be held. Thus, differences of opinion arose regarding the process of special and regular conventions.

That issue has now been legally resolved. We have legally transformed our campaign. Our transformation has also been accepted by the prevailing laws and constitution of Nepal. In this situation, there is no need to raise the same opinions and issues again.

We have already entered the process of the party's 15th general convention. Leaders who are currently dissatisfied have the opportunity, as provided by the statute, to go to the convention with their views and perspectives, engage with the cadres, and emerge popular. There is no need to stick to the same old stance now. As time has moved forward, it would be appropriate to strategize on how the party can regain power through the convention. Moreover, some changes happen gradually. It may take time. I believe this is what is happening in our party right now.  

The general cadres of the party have accepted the new system we have adopted, but some leaders still have 'reservations' about the legally sanctioned special convention. We have told the leaders who are still holding reservations, 'Alright, keep your reservations, take your opinions to the convention, and the convention will decide on new leadership.'

This is a matter of interpretation. I interpret this not as a dispute but as a difference in agenda and perspective, and I urge everyone to understand it as such.

Management of Disputes

Talks, dialogues, and discussions are being held in various stages and ways to resolve the differences of opinion seen within the party. There is no need for talks to happen according to a calendar. Friends are working from their end through formal and informal channels at every level and from every angle to resolve the disagreements within the party. It is the responsibility of the establishment to reconcile differences of opinion. We are doing that work.

For disagreements to be resolved, everyone must consider two things. First, opinions must be expressed keeping within the framework of the statute. The leadership and the establishment must find solutions through the process established by the statute. The party will be taken forward on that basis. Second, policy adjustment. If we can find room for policy adjustment, we will also make policy adjustments. Our clear stance is that all these matters must be resolved according to the provisions made in the statute.

We cannot move forward from outside the statute, through a process not envisioned by the statute. We are ready to find solutions to problems within the framework of what the statute provides. The leadership and the establishment are always open to patching up, adjusting, respecting differences of opinion, and ensuring inclusivity. These issues are being raised by the leadership and those involved in the talks for problem-solving. The process of reconciliation and unity is ongoing. We will move forward in a way that leads to a unified convention.

(Based on an interview with Nepali Congress spokesperson Chalise by Madhusudan Bhattarai)