Congress Debates Coalition Government in Koshi Province Amidst Internal Strife

Biratnagar. The Nepali Congress's central working committee meeting held in Chaitra last year gave the responsibility of coordinating the party's role in provincial parliamentary parties, provincial governments, and local levels to Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma. 'The responsibility of reviewing, coordinating, and ensuring the effectiveness of the roles of representatives from the party in provincial parliamentary parties, provincial governments, and local levels is given to Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma,' the Congress decision stated.

The meeting concluded that the main reason for the party's defeat in the elections was the 'coalition culture' practiced in the past. 'The coalition formed to save the parliament was later used to win elections, which created extreme dissatisfaction among the party's honest workers and the general public,' stated the review presented by Vice President Sharma.

Congress also considers the coalition government with UML as a major link to the defeat on February 21. 'The Congress-UML coalition government was not a product of our mature analysis and foresight; it was a secret agreement made overnight without dialogue even at the party's general secretary level,' the proposal presented at the Congress meeting stated, 'One of the two main parties in parliament had to represent the public's dissatisfaction constructively and hold the opposition bench.'

Discussing the same proposal, Congress determined that the failure to meet public expectations in the performance of the coalition government was the reason for the defeat.

While Congress identified the coalition itself as the main cause of unpopularity, the faction opposing the special general convention has started criticizing the move when Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma and his team went to knock on the door of UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli within a month and a half to maintain the province's coalition.

Congress Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma and Co-General Secretary Udayshamser Rana visited UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli at his residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur, on Tuesday. Sources claim that leaders from both parties discussed the issue of rotating chief ministership according to the past agreement. It is said that Congress and UML have not yet reached a decision on whether to change the chief minister now or after the budget.

However, the faction opposing the special general convention within Congress has accused the Gagan-Bishnu group, which concluded that the main reason for the election defeat was cooperation with UML and communists, of being power-hungry for seeking out Oli's door. Dr. Shekhar Koirala's close aide, Tarun Dal leader Netra Poudel, called it shameful to go against their own decision. 'This shows that Congress cannot stay out of power. It's like old wine in a new bottle to make a U-turn less than a month after deciding that Sher Bahadur Deuba made a mistake by forming a coalition,' Poudel said.

The discussion about changing the chief minister in the government led by Hikmatkumar Karki, formed on Poush 27, 2081, which formed a coalition with Congress (Bhadra 27), has been ongoing for a few days as it approaches 18 months. However, the date for changing the government has not yet been finalized. Nepali Congress wants to change the government before the budget (Asar 1). UML is delaying, sources say.

Binod Wantawa Rai, a Koshi Province Assembly member and Chairman of the Finance Committee of Nepali Congress, said he was unaware of the discussion about changing the government, although it was being discussed at the center. 'Such matters are discussed at the center. I have no information,' he said.

On the other hand, Himal Karki, a Congress MP and former minister, said that if the government is to be changed, it must be done before the budget. 'If the government is to be changed, it must be done before the budget,' he said, 'This may be the last budget of this parliament and the government formed by this parliament. There is no certainty. If the current government is allowed to present the budget, what is the point of changing the government?'

Although Congress appears united on the issue of forming a new government before presenting the budget, there is a dispute within the party regarding who will become the chief minister from their party. MPs from the party admit that internal conflict within Congress is hindering the government change process as much as it should be.

Last Tuesday, a meeting of the faction opposing the special general convention of Congress was held in Koshi Province. Udhhav Thapa, the party leader and Koshi Province Chairman, was not present at the meeting held at a hotel in Biratnagar. Earlier, Thapa was in the Krishna Sitaula group of Congress leaders. Now, sources say he has joined the Bishwaprakash group.

Seven provincial assembly members participated in the meeting. With the change in faction by party leader Thapa, sources say that leaders of the opposing faction of the special general convention, including Kedar Karki, Bhupendra Rai, and Bhim Parajuli, are trying to remove Thapa from the party leader position.

While internal conflict is ongoing within Congress, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli is reportedly in a mood for communist unity, according to sources. A leader of the Communist Party in Koshi Province says that proposals have been sent to Communist Party Chairman Prachanda through various emissaries to form communist governments in all provinces accordingly.

Prachanda, however, stated that a joint government of parties that played a leading role in the peace process and the formation of the current constitution should be formed, rather than a government solely of communists, according to the leader. Within UML, the Oli- इतर group is reportedly in favor of maintaining the current Congress-UML equation in the provincial government rather than communist unity.

Out of the 93-member Koshi Provincial Assembly, 92 members are currently active. RPP member Bhaktiprasad Sitolai had resigned earlier and became a candidate for the House of Representatives from Jhapa constituency 4. Now, UML has 40 members including the deputy speaker, Congress has 29, Maoist Center has 17, and RPP has 5 members including the speaker, and JSP has 1 member.