Nepali Congress Leader Mohan Bahadur Basnet Criticizes Party Leadership, Warns of Alternative Steps

Kathmandu. Nepali Congress leader Mohan Bahadur Basnet has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current leadership and working style of the party, warning of taking different steps if the leadership does not improve its weaknesses. Speaking at a Bagmati Province-level gathering, leader Basnet stated that an atmosphere of mistrust is growing within the party and that leaders at the leadership level should be held responsible for this. During his address, leader Basnet specifically named party president Gagan Thapa, claiming that he has 'hijacked' the party and is trying to seize control in violation of rules and regulations. He has also put forward some clear conditions for resolving the internal disputes within the party. He demanded that the ongoing process of updating active membership be immediately scrapped and insisted that the convention process should only proceed based on the committee's decision. He stated that the separate dates announced by two factions regarding the upcoming 15th General Convention should be canceled and a new date should be set with a collective spirit. Speaking to journalists and cadres, he said, 'I have been an opponent of Gagan Thapa ji since the beginning. An attempt is being made to seize the party through wrong methods, and I will never bow down or yield to him without the consent of my colleagues. First, this process must be abolished. Then, a joint active membership investigation committee should be formed by bringing together Sher Bahadur Deuba, Dr. Shekhar Koirala, and other groups. We must move forward with courage to save democracy and end the predatory gaze towards the party. If the leadership does not try to improve, new leadership capable of running will emerge.' Criticizing the current leadership, Basnet commented that the party has weakened because individuals who have repeatedly lost parliamentary and party elections are leading it. He announced that negotiations happen with power and strength, and declared that his group would be mobilized strongly in all 77 districts and sister organizations. He signaled that if necessary, a 'different path' could be taken to save the party and protect democracy, and proclaimed that the next program would be advanced vigorously.