Congress Internal Dispute: Morang and Biratnagar Congress Leaders Challenge Central Leadership

Biratnagar. At one time, Biratnagar's thought was the nation's thought. Some used to say, 'Biratnagar thinks before Kathmandu thinks.' That is why leaders used to come from time to time to understand Biratnagar's opinion. The main reason for saying so is the intervention in the central power by the Nepali Congress from Biratnagar itself.

Biratnagar is also the birthplace of the Nepali Congress, which sounded the conch of the movement against the autocratic Rana regime and the non-party Panchayat in Nepal. Great men like Krishna Prasad Koirala, BP Koirala, and Girija Prasad Koirala laid the foundation of democracy from this land. Biratnagar, carrying that historical legacy of the party, is now not only ignored by the country but also by the leadership of the Congress itself.

For that reason, Biratnagar and Morang Congress are trying to give a serious challenge to the current central leadership, the Gagan Thapa faction. Concluding that the recent style of work of Thapa, who became the president through a special general convention with the slogan of leadership transfer and party transformation, is of the nature of 'capturing' the party, the disgruntled and opposing faction leaders in Koshi Province are starting a strong front from Biratnagar.

In the review meeting of the 'Jara Abhiyan' (Root Campaign) started by the Congress on Baisakh 9, President Gagan Thapa's presentation was focused on the renewal of active membership. Although it was called a review meeting, leaders like President Gagan Thapa, Vice President Pushpa Bhusal, General Secretaries Pradip Poudel, and Gururaj Ghimire spent more time on the issue of 'active membership renewal' than on reviewing the campaign.

During that time, Thapa had strongly stated that those who do not vote for Congress cannot have their membership retained under any circumstances. The opposing faction of the Congress is strongly criticizing this, saying that the leadership is taking out its anger over the honest grassroots workers because they did not get the expected votes from the citizens in the election.

To organize this dissatisfaction, the opposing faction of the Congress organized a large gathering and discussion at the Koshi Province level in a hotel in Biratnagar on Baisakh 29. The opposing faction organized this counter-gathering by including leaders who were left without responsibility after the special general convention.

Bhoopendra Rai, General Secretary of the Congress Koshi Province, who is coordinating the Biratnagar gathering, said that the gathering was organized to expose the style of capture growing within the party. The opposing faction claims that this gathering is a common platform not only for Dr. Shekhar Koirala's faction but for all factions that are being suppressed by the party leadership.

Continuing that, the opposing faction of the Congress held a gathering in Biratnagar on Jestha 7 (Thursday). Most of the ward presidents and leaders of Biratnagar participated in the gathering. The gathering, held under the leadership of Congress Biratnagar President Deepak Chapagain, concluded that active membership should not be updated (entered). During that time, the ward presidents expressed strong dissatisfaction and protest, saying that they were bypassed and others were given user names and passwords to operate.

The gathering concluded that starting a new process when the membership renewal work has already been completed has increased disputes within the party. 'Earlier, 1.3 million party members had renewed their membership. Why do we have to do it again now? Why should the renewal done when Chairman Thapa himself was the General Secretary be rejected now?' is the statement of the opposing faction.

Chairman Chapagain said that the convention should be held by recognizing the old renewal. He said, 'We have already completed all the work by renewing it earlier. Why is it necessary now? The next convention should be conducted by those same renewed active members.'

Ward presidents, Province General Secretary Bhupendra Rai, former central member Bhim Parajuli, former Chief Minister of Koshi Province Kedar Karki, District Vice President Nagesh Koirala, Secretary Modaraj Ghimire, regional presidents, and metropolitan committee officials were present at the gathering.

Not only gatherings and meetings, but the opposing faction is also challenging the Gagan Thapa faction through social media. While the Thapa faction is saying that those who express different opinions will be punished, former Chief Minister of Koshi Province Kedar Karki, who became angry, criticized Gagan Thapa sharply, calling active membership a 'chit'.

'No one should dare to threaten honest workers who came after being shot by the army in the past with the punishment of a membership chit,' Karki wrote on social media.

Karki clarified that the tendency to see internal democracy when one engages in factionalism but to try to make others slaves today cannot be democratic at all, and the 15th General Convention will be made a convention of unity at all costs. Accusations of ideological erosion against the Gagan Thapa faction are also starting from Biratnagar. Congress Province General Secretary Bhupendra Rai has also questioned Thapa's 'double character'.

Rai accuses that while Thapa's faction argued that the Congress weakened and the Janji movement intensified when Sher Bahadur Deuba cooperated with UML in the past, they are now themselves involved in power struggles. 'It is surprising to hear that they (Gagan faction) are constantly meeting with UML leaders morning and evening and going to KP Oli's place to discuss provincial governments,' Rai said, 'Will the Congress become stronger if you make agreements and cooperate with UML in place of Sher Bahadur Deuba? Why such a quick ideological erosion?'

This criticism from Biratnagar, the political ground of BP and Girija, is trying to become the center of rebellion against the style of work of Gagan Thapa and the central committee. However, another aspect that should not be forgotten is that Dr. Shekhar Koirala, who claims the legacy of the Koirala group, has not been seen in the gatherings and meetings of Gagan's opposing faction. Rather, leaders and workers from his faction are starting to come out in the opposing faction. Biratnagar President Chapagain, Morang Vice President Nagesh Koirala, and President Dik Bahadur Limbu, although from the Koirala faction, are seen attending the gatherings and meetings of the opposing faction.