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Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed sorrow over the demise of NC Regional President from the Kathmandu electoral constituency-7 and Kathmandu metropolis ward-16 Chair Mukunda Rijal.

In his condolence message today, the NC leader remembered the contribution of Rijal to the NC institutional development and the democratic movement in Nepal.

Extending his tributes to the late people's representative, Deuba expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

The mortal remains of Rijal, who passed away in the course of treatment at Grande International Hospital in Dhapasi at 7:30 am today, is to be kept at the city Hall till 12 pm today to pay final tributes.

Afterward, the body will be taken to the Pashupati Aryaghat, as confirmed by NC Central Office Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel. The last rites are scheduled to be conducted at 2:30 pm today.

Born in 2027 BS, Rijal had spent his time in police custody for his involvement in the 2046 BS historic people's movement. 

He was elected twice as the NC regional president and ward chair under the Kathmandu metropolis.

Rijal had embarked on his political career through his involvement with the Nepal Student Union while studying at Saraswoti Campus, and he was also associated with various human rights organizations.

With his passing, the NC said it has lost a versatile and dedicated member.

Aa per the party’s statute, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba cannot run for a third consecutive term. Given his age and the intra-party dynamics, he is unlikely to take initiatives to amend the statute to remove the term limits. 

In this scenario, the stage is set for a new generation of leaders to take the reins of the party. The list of potential contenders is long and includes figures like Gagan Thapa, Shekhar Koirala, Prakash Man Singh, Bimalendra Nidhi and Purna Bahadur Khadka. But one thing is clear: As Deuba wields a majority within the party’s Central Working Committee, Parliamentary Party and Mahasamiti, securing his vote of confidence is crucial for the Congress presidential hopefuls.

Currently, all eyes are on incumbent General Secretary Gagan Thapa and the Koirala family scion Shekhar Koirala. Gagan Thapa and Shekhar Koirala were in the same camp during the 14th General Convention, but as they aspire for the top job, the distance between them is widening. 

Many insiders believe that Koirala is strategically getting closer to Deuba to clinch the party presidency. Their budding bonhomie was apparent when Koriala praised Deuba’s leadership during a TV interview.

Thapa, on the other hand, has traversed a winding path within the party. His journey, marked by alliances and shifts, has led him to his current position as the party’s general secretary. Yet, questions abound regarding his loyalty and next move.

In the 13th General Convention, where Thapa was defeated in the general secretary race, his vote helped Deuba secure the presidency. In return, Deuba appointed Thapa as the Health and Population Minister under the Cabinet of CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Puspa Kamal Dahal.

However, after the first federal election in 2017, Thapa shifted his position. Following the election, Deuba and former Deputy PM Prakashman Singh were seen as contenders for the position of parliamentary party leader. However, Thapa’s group supported Singh against Deuba’s candidate, and Singh lost in the parliamentary party’s election.

In the 14th General Convention, Thapa's ambitions became more prominent, and he aligned with the Koirala camp against Singh and Sitaula. In the Parliamentary Party election of 2023, Thapa stood against Deuba, sidelining Koirala. Before the parliamentary party's candidate selection, Shekhar's group and Thapa assured that in the upcoming leadership opportunity, they would propose Koirala for the top post. However, it now appears that Thapa is bypassing Koirala in various aspects. Still, leaders from the Shekhar-Gagan camp are trying to resolve their disputes. They propose Koirala as the party president and Thapa as the second-in-command. 

However, members from the Thapa camp say that leadership is not bestowed as a gift; it is a demand of the times, and Thapa will vie for the presidency in the 15th General Convention.

Deuba and Koirala clan

Deuba, a trustee of BP Koirala, the founding leader of Nepali Congress, and a supporter of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, was defeated in the leadership race against Girija Prasad Koirala and Sushil Koirala. After Sushil's passing, he competed against Ramchandra Poudel and Shekhar Koirala and secured the Congress presidency on both occasions.

Shashank Koirala, who emerged as a prominent figure during the 13th General Convention, had initially supported Deuba's candidacy and continued to do so during the 14th General Convention. However, the 14th General Convention created an environment where the members of the Koirala clan—Shekhar, Shashank and Sujata— found themselves in separate camps, which ultimately benefited Deuba. Shashank now appears to be closer to Deuba, and there is a growing thaw between Deuba and Shekhar. Shashank has indicated that he is preparing to contest the 15th General Convention for the presidency, regardless of support from Shekhar or not. Shashank believes that he has a better understanding of the Congress and the challenges it faces. 

Prakash Rasaili, a leader from the Shekhar-Gagan faction, believes that despite Shashank's skills as a politician, Deuba is unlikely to hand over the party leadership to the Koirala clan. Deuba's strategy, he says, is to create divisions in the opposition camp to ensure an easy victory for his own candidate. Relations between Shashank and Thapa were not cordial during the 14th Convention, as Shashank felt he was bypassed. A leader close to Shashank says that they are cautious about Thapa potentially betraying them at any time.

Shashank Koirala, Prakash Man Singh and Bimalendra Nidhi engaged in intense discussions during the 14th General Convention of the party. With the rising prominence of BP Koirala's and Mahendranarayan Nidhi's sons in political cooperation, the NC was witnessing the emergence of a new wave.

During discussions led by the trio, they reached an agreement that one among them would run for the position of Party presidency, while the other two would provide their support. However, as the registration for candidacy approached in the first phase of the Convention, both Singh and Nidhi registered their candidacies, while Shashank supported Deuba.

During the first phase of the convention, no candidate could garner the required 51 percent of votes to secure victory. So a second round of voting took place. In the first phase, Singh received the third-highest number of votes and Nidhi secured the fourth-highest. Despite their aspirations of becoming the party president, Singh and Nidhi supported Deuba.

During this time, Deuba faced allegations of withdrawing support from Singh after making promises.

Will Khadka become Deuba's successor?

There is no certainty as to who will become the NC president, but there are some early indications. Top leaders from Deuba's camp, such as Purna Bahadur Khadka and Gopal Man Shrestha, are natural candidates for the party presidency. However, Shrestha's influence within the party is limited.

Regarding the allegations of Bal Krishna Khand's involvement in the fake Bhutanese refugee scandal, there is speculation among the opposition about Deuba's choice for his successor. This controversy has brought Khadka forward as a potential candidate from the Deuba faction. 

Badri Sigdel, the former president of Nepal Press Union, says Khadka’s experiences, including key roles during the party's previous split, as well as positions like party general secretary, vice-president, and current Deputy Prime Minister, highlight his seniority within the party. 

Deuba has not explicitly assured support to Khadka so far. This has led to a debate on Arzoo Deuba's position within the party. Leaders suggest that she is unlikely to run for party presidency but may contest for a vital office bearer position.

Congress leader Rasaili believes that despite Deuba's support, the group in which Arzoo becomes a candidate is destined for defeat. "There is no unity even within the Deuba group. Today, Deuba, who is the president and the leader of the parliamentary party, and who is likely to become the prime minister in the near future, is facing opposition from leaders within his own group. If he is not the party president tomorrow, the situation will be different. Everyone should pursue their own politics; leaders can't just follow Deuba's lead."

Sigdel holds a different opinion. He says: "Sher Bahadur Deuba, who has led the party for two terms, fought against the Koiralas in the past and has been prime minister five times, has a strong grip on the party. Without Deuba's support, no one can win the presidency, given the strong organization he has built. Even a small fraction of support from Deuba's camp can make a significant difference."

A central committee member close to Deuba says that since the Congress is currently undergoing internal reformation, there is no clear picture of who will be the candidates for the next general convention. Regarding Khadka’s chance of getting Deuba’s nod, he says: "The process of breaking up and rebuilding factions is still ongoing, so we have not reached a point where Khadka can be definitively called Deuba's successor."

Three senior leaders of the ruling coalition held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss resolving the House obstruction.

The main opposition CPN-UML has been obstructing the Parliament proceedings for a long time demanding formation of a high-level probe committee to investigate the recent gold smuggling case.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal and Deputy Prime Minister duo Purna Bahadur Khadka and Narayan Kaji Shrestha among others were present in the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar this morning.

The Prime Minister’s press coordinator Surya Kiran Sharma said that the meeting has decided to intensify the process of talks with the main opposition party and the parties representing in the Parliament to resolve the House deadlock.

Earlier, Prime Minister Dahal, Congress President Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli had held a meeting.

The meeting, however, could not reach an agreement to open the House.

The UML has been obstructing the proceedings of both the House of federal Parliament since June 26 demanding formation of a high-level probe committee to investigate the gold smuggling case.

The Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) on July 18 had seized around one quintal gold that had passed undetected through the customs of the Tribhuvan International Airport.  The yellow metal was concealed in motorcycle brake shoes and electric shavers.

But the weight of the gold after removing the brake shoes came out to be 60 kg.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Nepal held a meeting on Tuesday.

According to a source, they held a serious discussion for almost two hours.

Leader Nepal had reached Dhumbarahi to meet Congress President Deuba after the Supreme Court issued a directive in the name of government to also bring decision makers in the Lalita Niwas land grab case under investigation.

Congress Vice-President Purna Bahadur Khadka and Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak were also present in the meeting.

Chairman Nepal also expressed his dissatisfaction over the working style of the government with Deuba.

Saying that the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government has been targeting the leaders of the coalition, a source said that Nepal expressed his displeasure with Congress President Deuba.

He accused the CPN (Maoist Center) of operating the government unilaterally.

Former prime minister Nepal said that lawmaker Sunil Sharma was arrested just for asking the resignation of Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha and the government to arrest Congress leader Bal Krishna Khand in the Bhutanese refugee case.

He said that the investigation into the Gaur massacre and others are serious issues.

Nepal demanded that a serious discussion should be held among the ruling coalition partners on the issue.

The meeting ruling coalition held on Monday evening was also focused on the same issue.

A source said that Prime Minister Dahal had also called Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel to the meeting to take suggestions regarding the order of the Supreme  Court.

The Janata Samajbadi Party had expressed its dissatisfaction in the meeting.

After the party strongly criticized the government, Prime Minister Dahal, who is also the Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Center) had expressed his commitment not to proceed with the investigation into the Gaur massacre.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has called the party’s Parliamentary Party meeting.

Congress President Deuba summoned the Parliamentary Party meeting for Friday to discuss ongoing House deadlock and contemporary political issues, Deuba’s PA Bhanu Deuba said.

The main opposition CPN-UML has been obstructing the Parliament proceedings demanding an investigation, alleging that the CPN (Maoist Center) leaders are also involved in the 100-kg gold smuggling case.

The UML and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have been demanding the formation of a high-level probe committee or Judicial Commission to investigate the gold smuggling case.

The lawmakers of the ruling parties also have their differing views about the formation of a high-level probe committee.

Speaking at the Parliament on August 8, UML lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai had demanded voting for the formation of a probe committee.

Earlier on Wednesday, Janata Samajbadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav had warned Deuba of quitting the government, expressing dissatisfaction over the five-point agreement made by the government with the victims of the Gaur massacre.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba held a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday after ruling Janata Samajbadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav warned of quitting the government.

Yadav, who was miffed with the government after the Home Ministry signed a five-point agreement with Gaur massacre victims, met Nepali Congress President Deuba on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the Janata Samajbadi Party Chairman expressed his dissatisfaction with the Congress President Deuba over the agreement signed with Gaur massacre victims.

According to a source, Yadav had even warned Deuba that they would leave the government.

Saying he would hold a discussion with the Prime Minister on the issue, Deuba, in response, urged Yadav not to take unpleasant decision like quitting the government.

Leader Yadav even told Congress President Deuba that he was not satisfied with the working style of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

After the meeting with Yadav, Congress President Deuba, Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak and Krishna Sitaula among other leaders had reached Baluwatar to meet Prime Minister Dahal.

They discussed issues like ending House deadlock and Gaur massacre.

On March 21, 2007, cadres of the then Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and Maoist had a clash in Gaur-based Rice Mill.

As many as 27 persons had lost their lives in the incident.

The families of those who died and injured in the incident had been staging demonstrations putting forth various demands.

On Tuesday, the government and the representatives of the Gaur massacre victims signed a five-point agreement at the Home Ministry.

Struggle Committee Chairman Rup Sagar Devi and Home Ministry spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai had signed the agreement.

According to the agreement, complaints pertaining to the incident filed with the police will be investigated and the guilty will be brought to book.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu held a meeting at the former’s residence in Dhumbarahi on Friday.

Lu, who came to Kathmandu to discuss the issue of MCC implementation, is scheduled to meet senior leaders of various political parties.

He arrived in Kathmandu on Friday.

The US Assistant Secretary was welcomed by US Ambassador to Nepal Dean Thompson at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Preparations are underway to implement the MCC from mid-August 18 months after the endorsement by the Parliament.

As per the MCC agreement, the US agency will provide $500 million in grants and the government will spend $130 million on energy and transportation projects.

On paper, the Nepali Congress is in the pink. The party is a key piece in the coalition government in Kathmandu, leading vital ministerial portfolios, such as finance, defense, health and industry. It is also heading three of the seven provincial governments and 295 out of 753 local governments. 

But there is a sense of unease among many leaders and cadres concerning the party’s future. They say the Congress is confronting multiple challenges which if left unremedied could risk the very existence of the party. This sense of anxiety is also widespread among the district-level leadership of the party, which they made clear when they met at the NC headquarters in Sanepa, Lalitpur, last week. 

A word of assurance from NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba would calm the nerves of the party rank and file at this moment, but that has not happened—and is unlikely to happen. The alarm bell ringers in the party represent the rival factions, and Deuba has so far managed to shrug off their grievances. 

Right after the general elections held in November last year, party leaders have been calling for a Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting to discuss the intra-party and national issues, but Deuba has been postponing it. 

The meeting of the party’s executive committee has finally been set up for Wednesday, which is likely to witness a verbal war between the rival factions. For a long time, Deuba had been avoiding the CWC meeting in an apparent bid to avoid criticism and confrontation. The rival factions are prepared for a showdown with the establishment faction. 

There are multiple issues related to the party and the government that the CWC will have to delve into. The first is holding the party's policy convention which should have taken place immediately after the party's general convention held in 2021. The objective of the policy convention is to review and rework the party's ideological standing in the changing context. 

The second issue is about managing the party's sister organizations torn asunder by the intra-party infighting.  

Madhu Acharya, a CWC member, says they are presenting a detailed report on party reformation prepared on the basis of consultations held in all seven provinces and diaspora community. 

“Our first priority is to fix the date and venue of the policy convention and Mahasamiti meeting. If party leadership does not heed to our request, we will launch a signature campaign to hold the party's special general convention to change the leadership,” Acharya says.

It is no secret that the rival factions do not see Deuba’s leadership in a favorable light. Part of the resentment comes from the fact that Deuba holds a significant sway in all party committees, including the CWC and the Parliamentary Party, and almost no decision can be made without his say-so.  

For example, several appointments are pending in the party's sister organizations due to Deuba’s reluctance. Factional feud inside the NC has spread to the local level, and is eating away at the party and its organizations. There are at least four clear factions in the party: the establishment camp led by Deuba, and others spearheaded by Gagan Kumar Thapa, Shekhar Koirala, and Gururaj Ghimire.

Last week’s meeting of district-level presidents of the party was convened by the Thapa camp. Likewise, the Ghimire-led group also recently sent its representatives to all seven provinces for the “NC resurgence campaign”. The Deuba fold is not pleased with the latest activities of the rival groups.   

“It is inappropriate to call a meeting of district presidents when the whole party mechanisms are unaware about it,” says Nain Singh Mahar, a CWC member and a leader close to Deuba, of the district-level leadership meeting organized by the Thapa camp in Sanepa.

Observers say the growing factional rift in the NC will not help the party’s future. While the party may have the largest share of seats in parliament, they say the strength of the Congress party is waning away. Today’s NC cannot fight elections on its own. In the last year’s general elections, the party had to forge an electoral alliance with the CPN (Maoist Center) and other fringe left parties.  

Despite emerging as the largest party, the NC is currently playing second fiddle to the third-place Maoist party as part of a pre-election power-sharing deal. There is a general dissatisfaction inside the Congress over the performance of the current government. Some leaders are of the view that the party will fail to secure its political base if this government fails to deliver. 

Revelation of corruption scandals involving senior party leaders are also not helping the NC. While the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has won acclaim for prosecuting “high profile” individuals, there is a fear that the Maoists could weaponize these corruption cases to ultimately disrepute and weaken the Congress party.   

Many NC leaders are not in favor of joining forces with ideologically opposite communist parties just for the sake of securing parliamentary seats. 

The meteoric rise of the newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party has also rattled the Congress, along with other traditional mainstream political forces of Nepal. 

The NC youth leaders and members in particular seem tired of Deuba’s leadership.  

A few days ago, NC rival leader and general secretary, Thapa, made his intention known about his plan to unseat Deuba as the parliamentary party leader. 

“I am pretty clear that the same leader should not become prime minister again. So I am trying my best to change the parliamentary party leader,” he said at a public program.

Thapa had contested and lost against Deuba in the PP election held after last year’s general elections. He was defeated by a huge margin despite getting the support from Koirala, another rival leader in the NC.  

Thapa and Koirala are no longer together, as both of them are vying for the post of Congress president. Koirala has been working hard to improve his ties with Deuba.  

In Wednesday’s CWC meeting, Koriala is expected to restrain himself from criticizing Deuba’s leadership. But the same cannot be said for rival leaders Thapa and Ghimire, who could launch an all-out attack on Deuba.