Congress Internal Dispute Deepens After Central Committee Nominations

Kathmandu. The internal dispute has deepened after Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa nominated 19 individuals, claimed to be from the former President Sher Bahadur Deuba group and Dr. Shekhar Koirala group, to the central committee.< p>

President Thapa had nominated 19 people to the central committee on Jestha 28. Among the nominated, 12 are leaders from the former President Sher Bahadur Deuba group and 7 are from Dr. Shekhar Koirala group.< p>

यी हुन् कांग्रेस केन्द्रीय समितिमा मनोनीत देउवा समूहका १२ र शेखर समूहका ७ जना

The Deuba group and Shekhar group have expressed dissatisfaction, stating that they were nominated arbitrarily without consultation. Not only that, they have also stated in a press release that the nomination of central members has hurt the process of party unity after the special general convention.< p>

Dr. Shekhar Koirala stated in a press note after the nomination of 19 central members that the expansion of the central committee without consultation has hurt the party's greater unity.< p>

बिना परामर्श केन्द्रीय समिति बिस्तारले पार्टीको बृहत्तर एकतामा ठेस पुगेको छ : कोइराला

The former acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka, who is currently leading the Deuba group, has also stated that the objective of party unity has been hurt. Khadka mentioned on social media Facebook that he was not given any information about the expansion of the central committee.< p>

केन्द्रीय सदस्य मनोनयनले पार्टी एकताको उद्देश्यमा ठेस पुग्यो : पूर्णबहादुर खड्का

After the two leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the central committee expansion process, Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma responded. He warned against seeking a 60/40 split in the party.< p>

Speaking at a Gandaki Province-level gathering of Congress in Pokhara on Jestha 31, Vice President Sharma said, 'We must move forward with complete unity, ending the politics of factionalism and division. The process of accommodating those who were against the special general convention by giving them respectable responsibilities has already begun. Those friends who are against the special general convention equally own this party. If you look at the recent decisions, it is clear that we have not sidelined anyone. Those who did not participate in the special general convention have been given high and respectable responsibilities.'< p>

६०/४० को भागबन्डा छोडेर अब १०० प्रतिशतको कांग्रेस बनौँ : उपसभापति शर्मा

Former acting president Khadka responded again to Vice President Sharma's statement. At the program 'Nepali Congress Greater Unity and Future Direction' organized by the Congress Karnali Province Working Committee on Jestha 2, he stated that the party has reached the brink of division.< p>

Referring to a meeting with President Thapa and Vice President Sharma a few days ago, Khadka said that he had advised against going down the path of party division.< p>

'The party is on the brink of division, but the responsibility of uniting or dividing the party lies in the hands of two people. Gagan Thapa must be able to become the leader of the entire Congress. In repeated meetings, I have told him to move forward by including everyone within the party. He should not be seen as the president of only Sanepa. Active members should also feel that it is their party,' Khadka said.< p>

Khadka also claimed that the party weakened due to the special general convention, which is why Congress was reduced to 38 seats in the House of Representatives elections. He urged to move forward on the basis of coordination and consensus, warning that if unilateral actions continue, the problems will deepen further.< p>

Leaders from the Deuba and Koirala groups are dissatisfied, accusing President Thapa of trying to break up the ideological groups by nominating leaders from their factions to the central committee without consultation.< p>

However, Vice President Sharma says that the party has tried to convey a message of unity by nominating leaders who did not participate in the special general convention to various positions in the last 3 decisions.< p>

'Look at the last 3 decisions, friends who were against the special general convention have been given respectable responsibilities,' said Vice President Sharma. 'Women's Association President - Mina Kharel, Parliamentary Party Leader - Bhishma Raj Angdembe, and the nomination of 19 people to the central committee. None of them participated in the special general convention. The process of including everyone has now begun.'< p>

Umesh Shrestha, who was nominated by the then President Sher Bahadur Deuba after the 14th general convention, has also been nominated as the treasurer.< p>

However, the Deuba group believes that party unity cannot be strengthened based on decisions made without consensus. When asked if the leaders from his group were recommended for central committee membership, Khadka, who is currently leading the Deuba group, says, 'It was not with my consensus. The nominated leaders have not even told me that they have been offered to become central members.'< p>

Leaders say that Khadka has been responding to those who ask him that they might have gone based on personal relationships. Khadka has formally stated that this has further disrupted the atmosphere that showed signs of party unity.< p>

Meanwhile, President Gagan Thapa has stated that he is ready to do whatever is necessary within the framework of the constitution to unite the party. Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Democratic Thought Society in Kathmandu on Sunday, President Thapa said that he is ready to make the 15th general convention fair and impartial.< p>

President Thapa said, 'I am ready to decide who to place where to make the committee being formed for the general convention fair. I will do it within the framework of the constitution. This is my public commitment.'< p>

Disputes began in Congress after the selection of a new leadership under the initiative of then General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma in the special general convention held at the end of Poush with the agreement of the then central committee and President Sher Bahadur Deuba.< p>

After the new leadership was formed with a central working committee including office bearers by the special general convention under the leadership of Gagan Thapa, the Deuba and Shekhar groups went to the Election Commission and the Supreme Court against it. However, the commission and the court have already given official recognition to the special general convention.< p>