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The Nepali Congress is observing 48th National Unity and Reconciliation Day across the country today with various programs.

The NC has been observing this Day on Push 16 every year recalling the day when its founding leader BP Koirala with other leaders returned to Nepal leaving their life in exile about eight years from India.

NC Communication, Information and Publicity Department Chief Min Bahadur Bishwokarma said that the party is marking the National Unity and Reconciliation Day in Kathmandu this year by organizing a special program.

An event has been scheduled at Nepal Academy, Kamaladi at 1 pm this afternoon where top leaders of different political parties, who have contributed to democratic movement and members of the comprehensive peace accord, will attend.

Different leaders including with supreme leader Ganesh Man Singh, leader Shailaja Acharya, Khub Bahadur Khadka, Ram Babu Prasaib and Nilamber Panthi had returned home under leadership of the first elected Prime Minister Koirala on Push 16, 2033 BS from India after leaving their life of exile of around eight years with the policy of reconciliation.

Upon their return, Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh, and other leaders were arrested from Tribhuvan International Airport and imprisoned again at Sundarijal jail. 

The Sundarijal jail has now turned into a museum on September 9, 2004.

The Nepali Congress has provided Rs 5 million to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund as a contribution to support the earthquake victims.

The Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba handed over the cheque of Rs 5 million to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Nepali Congress President Deuba, General Secretary duo Bishwo Prakash Sharma and Gagan Kumar Thapa among others had reached Baluwar to hand over the cheque for the rescue and relief of the people affected by the earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum West.

Earlier, the Congress had announced to provide Rs 5 million to the government’s fund for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the earthquake-affected people.

As many as 157 people died and over 200 were injured after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake jolted west Nepal on Friday night.

Almost half of those killed in the earthquake on Friday were children, it has been found. According to data with the police, 78 of the 153 people killed in the quake on the night of Nov 3 were children. Of the deceased children, 50 died in Jajarkot and 28 in Rukum West due to the quake, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Santosh Roka.

Twenty eight of 52 people who died in the quake in Rukum West were children, said the district police chief Namraj Bhattarai. “Most of the deceased in Rukum West were children. Two 10-month-old children have also lost their lives,” he said. According to the Jajarkot police, of the 105 deceased in Jajarkot, 50 were children, 33 women and 18 men. In Rukum West, 16 women and eight men died in the quake.

Meanwhile, the quake-affected people have been waiting for relief to arrive.

Nepali Congress has urged the government for the prompt treatment and rescue of Nepalis injured in Israel.

Speaking at the Parliament meeting on Sunday, Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said that the government should act wisely to rescue and treat the Nepali injured in Israel.

“Nepali citizens living in Israel are in trouble. I on behalf of the party urged the government to act wisely to rescue and treat the Nepalis injured in Israel,” he said.

Saying that the conflict between Israel and Hamas could be prolonged, he urged the government to pay attention to the safety of all the Nepalis in Israel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that three Nepali were injured in the attack between Israel and Hamas and 12 have gone out of contact.

Nepali Congress Central Working Committee (CWC) members have strongly criticized the government’s performance in an ongoing CWC meeting. They have raised concerns about the government’s failure to effectively manage governance, combat corruption, and revive the struggling economy.

The CWC members have further warned that the current economic crisis has the potential to escalate social tensions and lead to law and order issues. They have also urged Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba to reconsider the support it is lending to the Dahal-led government.

Pradip Paudel: Several of our party leaders hold ministerial portfolios in this government, but I cannot tell a single good thing that they have accomplished. The economy is heading toward disaster. Around 33 percent of shop space in Kathmandu is closed. The prices of essential goods and food grains are soaring. The party president should tell the government to address these pressing issues. It is crucial for the Nepali Congress to have a meaningful presence in the government. 

Binod Chaudhary: Our Central Committee is too much focused on political matters while the economic and development issues are taking a back seat. The government should develop a clear road map to bring back the youths who are working abroad and to revive the stagnant development works and ailing industrial sector. We have to understand the current problems faced by the business sector. As the largest party, the Nepali Congress should come up with a 10-year plan to address the challenges facing the country.

Ram Janam Chaudhry: In the absence of job opportunities at home, our youths are leaving the country in droves. Meanwhile, the economy is on the verge of collapse. The party leadership should strongly urge the Ministry of Finance, which is led by NC leader Prakash Saran Mahat, to come up with a clear strategy to address the economic challenges.

Rajiv Dhungana: The Nepali Congress is a significant part of this government. So it is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation of the government's performance. While the government has opened some corruption cases, people have not witnessed a decrease in corruption. In fact, corruption has increased under the current government. The law and order situation continues to deteriorate, and businesspeople face a host of challenges.

Bhim Parajuli: This government should take immediate action to address the economic crisis. The role of Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha is not satisfactory. He has taken a selective approach to controlling corruption, targeting only Nepali Congress leaders. Our party leadership has not adequately prepared for the political crisis unfolding in Koshi province.

Laxmi Pariyar: The ongoing economic crisis would lead to an increase in crime in society. Are there any initiatives from the government in order to address the crisis that the country is facing today? What is the government’s road map to end the current crisis? Small businesses are facing a lot of challenges. The Nepali Congress is leading the Finance Ministry, but it has done nothing to address the economic challenges.   

Shiva Humagain: There are problems both in the government as well as in the party. But there seems to be a distinct lack of discipline within our party. This became apparent when our leader Bal Krishna Khand was arrested without substantial proof, and a group of our leaders met Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha to thank him. As far as this government is concerned, it has failed to comprehend that the people are extremely frustrated. The cost of living is increasing and the economy is hurting, but the government seems to have no plans to address these challenges.      

Shankar Bhandari: The Nepali Congress should stand in favor of federalism and Hinduism. In the previous Mahasamiti meeting, we had submitted a memorandum demanding for the reinstatement of Hindu state, but the party had not acted on it. The upcoming Mahasamiti meeting should take up this agenda because there have been systematic efforts to attack the Hindu agenda. The party should also consider scrapping the federal structure, which has not only become a huge economic burden but also a threat to our national security. Supporting secularism and Hinduism may be the compulsion of some leaders, but it is fatal for the party as well as the country.

Shyam Ghimire: The Nepali Congress, as a largest party, should be able to provide a clear road map to the government as well as society in general. Currently, the people are deeply frustrated with the political and economic crises. Many of them blame us for these problems.

Jivan Bahadur Shahi: We are yet to prepare the legal as well as institutional mechanisms for effective implementation of federalism. There is a lack of clarity on the party's position on federalism and other issues. If the party does not like federalism, let’s get rid of it. If not, let’s take the initiative to formulate the laws required for federalism to function smoothly. 

Ramesh Lekhak: The main opposition, CPN-UML, is not playing a constructive role in Parliament. This has created a lot of problems. The UML is obstructing the House even on tiny issues and as a result, Parliament is not performing its duties effectively. The Nepali Congress should take the necessary steps to address this situation.

Surendra Raj Pandey: There has been an all-round attack on federalism. Our party does not have a clear position on federalism and secularism. Our ruling political parties are not serious about formulating laws to implement federalism. Do we want to keep federalism or do we want to dismantle it? As the largest party, the Nepali Congress should come up with a clear position.

Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr Shashanka Koirala has ruled out the possibility of government change at present.

Talking to mediapersons in Chitwan on Sunday, the NC leader said though general misunderstanding among the ruling partners, there was no possibility for the government change at the moment.

"As far as I am concerned, the government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal could last for five years," he said, adding that a government is necessary to take the nation towards the path of development.  "There is no tug-of-war in the government."

The leader took time to say Dahal is not an ordinary personality, adding that he saw no ground that the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) would collaborate in the days to come.

He also said that in the past he wished the NC to stay in the opposition, underlining the need for further unity within the party to keep the party legacy intact. 

He advised the party leadership to provide an opportunity to the youth generation to own up the party leadership.

A three-day BP Literary Festival, 2080 BS, is beginning today.

The event is being organized by the Nepali Congress (NC) commemorating the 110th birth anniversary of its founding leader and first people's elected Prime Minister of Nepal.

The event is being held at the NC central office, Sanepa of Lalitpur under the auspices of the NC Central Working Committee, in collaboration with the Nepali Writers' Association and the Nepal Cultural Federation, among others.

A poetry symposium, gazal recitations, musical performances, an art exhibition, documentary screenings and a photo exhibition are among the parts of the festival.

The opening session of the festival will witness the screening of a documentary titled "Hijacking for Democracy."

Head of Information, Communications and Publicity Department of the Congress Min Bahadur Bishwakarma said that there will be poetry, ghazal, painting exhibition, documentary exhibition, historical photo exhibition and other programs in the festival.

Litterateur Abhi Subedi will deliver a talk on BP's literary creation and philosophy of life.

At the end of the first day, a poetry symposium will be held where 20 poets are scheduled to take part.

The Nepali Congress has requested academicians and scholars and all those interested to participate in the festival being held for the first time ever.

Nepali Congress has condemned the attack on its Joint General Secretary Mahendra Yadav.

The party strongly condemned the incident that occurred today, reads a statement issued by Chief Secretary at the NC Party Office Krishna Prasad Paudel.  

Yadav was attacked when he was exiting from the Reporters’ Club after attending a program this afternoon.

He is undergoing treatment at Trauma Centre in Kathmandu.

The NC has strongly demanded that the government carry out an investigation into the matter and take stern action against those involved in the incident.

The party wished Yadav a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, police have arrested a man for his alleged invovement in the attack.

The Nepali Congress has called on the main opposition CPN-UML to put an end to the parliamentary deadlock. 

Issuing a press statement, the NC said in light of the disasters caused by monsoon rains, it was crucial to address and discuss the matter in the Parliament. The party said it was irresponsible on the part of the UML to obstruct the House in a crisis situation.

Political stability is vital for the nation’s best interests, the party said in its statement, underscoring the need for effective efforts toward stability. 

Earlier, a meeting of the NC resolved to initiate discussions with both the ruling parties and other political factions, including the main opposition, to break the current parliamentary impasse.

Additionally, the meeting expressed concerns about a 100-kg illegal consignment of gold making it through the Tribhuvan International Airport despite the presence of various government agencies at the airport. The party urged the government to take necessary measures to control such illicit activities and called for an impartial investigation. It expressed confidence in the capabilities of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police to probe the case. 

The NC also urged the government to address budgetary shortcomings, rectify reduced capital expenditure and effectively implement the current fiscal year’s budget.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Sunil Sharma has been arrested on Thursday.

A team of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police apprehended Sharma today, a source said.

It has been learnt that Sharma was arrested in the fake educational certificate case.

He is the directly elected lawmaker from Morang.

Congress leader Ajaybabu Shivakoti confirmed the arrest of Sharma. Following his arrest, Shivakoti expressed his anger on social media.

“What is the government trying to do by arresting lawmaker Sunil Sharma who has been speaking about the gold smuggling for the past few days? Has the Speaker given permission to arrest sitting lawmaker at a time when the Parliament session is underway? Or all have become united to stop the voice being raised on the issue of gold smuggling?” he questioned.

After the Central Working Committee meeting of Nepali Congress, it appears that the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government has become even more stronger. The NC's rival faction led by Gagan Kumar Thapa has pledged to keep the current coalition intact, a shift from his earlier position where he said that the coalition could break if the government fails to meet people’s expectations.

The CWC meeting of Congress party has also taken ownership of the decision to form an alliance with Dahal’s CPN (Maoist Center), but made no pledge to renew electoral alliance with the Maoists in the next general elections.

“Our experienced leaders demonstrated their political skills carefully, bringing Nepali politics back to normalcy, even in an adverse political situation,” the NC decision says. The party adds that the move to forge an alliance with the Maoists enhanced the NC’s political reputation as well as boosted confidence of the parties involved in the coalition.  

Congress has called its ruling partnership with the Maoists and other fringe parties as “an alliance formed for a specific purpose in a specific situation.” It has called the current alliance the very foundation from which Ram Chandra Poudel, a senior NC politician, was elected the President of Nepal. 

The decisions that came out from the CWC meeting of NC, the largest party in parliament, suggest that the Dahal government has no threat from its primary coalition partner. Another coalition partner, CPN (Unified Socialist), despite showing some dissatisfaction over the budget, is also firm on its position to keep this government alive until next general elections.

This also puts an end to all the theories and conjectures regarding government change born out of several rounds of talks that the Thapa-led faction of the NC held with the main opposition, CPN-UML. 

The Thapa camp was exploring the possibility of forging an alliance with the UML, in case things did not go quite as well with the Maoists. But NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba was opposed to this idea. 

“Thapa influence in the party is very weak and Deuba was never in favor of aligning with the UML,” says political analyst Puranjan Acharya.

Amid all these developments, it is the NC that seems to be in trouble. The CWC gathering showed that the factional rift in the party is ever more widening, with general secretary duo, Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, still insistent on changing the parliamentary party leader. In other words, Thapa and Sharma are strongly opposed to the idea of Deuba becoming  prime minister for the record sixth time.   

As per the power-sharing agreement, Prime Minister Dahal will hand over the government reins to Madhav Kumar Nepal of Unified Socialist, who will in turn cede the premiership to Deuba.

It is highly unlikely that Thapa and Sharma will succeed in stopping Deuba from getting elected as the parliamentary party leader again, as the latter simply hold too much sway in the party. 

But for Prime Minister Dahal, the friction within the Congress party is enough to make him suspicious. He fears that a conspiracy is afoot to upend the current coalition. 

“Efforts are underway to create friction inside the ruling alliance as the government is fighting corruption and maintaining good governance,” Dahal said at a public function on Sunday. A few days back, Deuba and Nepal had made similar statements. It just goes to show that the parties in the ruling alliance are plagued by uncertainty regarding their unity. Deep down, the UML could somehow scupper their coalition. 

But the UML leaders say this fear is unfounded. They say the NC leadership is not ready to enter a power-sharing deal with the UML.

In a recent interview with ApEx, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli had said that the NC is not thinking politically by refusing to consider a power-sharing agreement outside the Maoists party.  

According to Oli, the UML was not in a rush to ascend to power, though the party was in favor of forming the NC-UML government to ensure government stability. 

A senior UML leader says Deuba even refused the party’s offer of premiership.

“He is reluctant to talk with us. We think he is under external pressure to not join hands with the UML.” 

If the current ruling alliance survives, the UML is sure to remain out of power till the next elections.
Earlier, it was expected that the Dahal government’s decision to investigate and prosecute the suspects of the fake Bhutanese refugee scandal and high level corruption cases could create friction between the Maoists and the NC. Several NC and UML politicians and lawmakers, including Bal Krishna Khand and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, were arrested in connection to the Bhutanese refugee scam. In the wake of the infamous case, several NC and UML leaders had denounced the government’s move as “selective prosecution” and “vindictive politics” launched by Prime Minister Dahal.  

UML Chairman Oli had questioned the intent of Prime Minister Dahal and called on his government to display its impartiality by opening an investigation into the alleged corruption that took place during the management of Maoists cantonments after the 2006 peace agreement. 

For many political pundits and observers, the arrests of NC and UML politicians created an environment for the two parties to come closer and take out the Maoist party from power. Things didn't pan out that way.  Political analyst Acharya says the opening of high level corruption files means more politicians from all major parties will be under scrutiny.

“The investigations into Lalita Niwas land grab case and fake Bhutanese refugee scandal have already created an unease inside all major parties,” he says. “In this scenario, there is no immediate threat to the ruling coalition.” 

External factors, if not determinant, also play a vital role in the change of government. So far, according to a ruling party leader, India is in favor of the continuation of the current coalition led by Dahal. 

“So long as Dahal enjoys the support and goodwill of India and Western powers, he has little to fear,” says the leader who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Prime Minister Dahal is set to visit China in September, and some observers say the trip will likely determine the fate of the current coalition. Ahead of Dahal’s China trip, according to multiple sources, some UML leaders have started talks with the Maoist side for the revival of the left alliance. In that case, it is the NC that needs to be worried.

But Lokraj Baral, professor of political science and former ambassador of Nepal to India, says the reason why the talks about government change is finding traction has also to do with the political history of Nepal. 

No government since the past seven decades has completed its full term. “In fact, we have recently seen that even the government with two-thirds majority cannot complete a full term. So naturally, politicians, people and analysts think that this government will not last long,” he says.

Koshi Province Acting Chief Minister Hikmat Karki said that the CPN-UML is ready to form a new government together with the Nepali Congress.

Karki, who was reinstated after the Supreme Court removed Congress province Parliamentary Party leader Uddhav Thapa from the post of chief minister, took charge as the acting chief minister today.

Speaking to journalists at the Biratnagar Airport this afternoon, he said that the UML will not be the stumbling block for the prosperity of the province.

Karki said that the country’s largest parties—Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—could go together.

“We can go ahead by forming a new government if the Nepali Congress is ready to work with the UML for democracy and good governance. We are open,” he said.

Karki said that discussions are going on for the same.

“We are ready to give the post of chief minister. The party should be ready to give the post of chief minister if it has no majority. But I do not agree with the proposal to change the leadership on the rotation basis,” he said.

Karki said that the UML could also go to the office of the province chief for the formation of a new government by garnering a majority.

The ruling Nepali Congress has decided to hold its Mahasamiti meeting in November to undertake responsibilities assigned to it by the party’s policy convention as decided in the 14th general convention.

The Mahasamiti is the party’s apex body, which dwells on contemporary political issues. The party has also decided to hold a nationwide campaign between Aug 5 and Aug 14 and in the community from Aug 27 to Sept 10 for strengthening the party’s organizational base.

The week-long meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC), which took place after a gap of one year, also made its position on a host of national agendas, but failed to address key intra-party issues such as holding a policy convention, forming the party’s department and addressing concerns related to the party’s sister organizations.  Regarding the current corruption scandals, the party has said that good governance is its top priority.

“The Nepali Congress has and will always be committed to making the country free from corruption by punishing anyone who commits corruption according to the law,” the party has said.

The party has also commended the government for the steps taken to investigate and prosecute fake Bhutanese refugee scam and Lalita Niwas land grab case. Several high level politicians, including senior NC leader Bal Krishna Khand, and business persons have been implicated in both scandals. 

The NC has said that its policy on corruption is that no innocent should be punished or guilty be spared. During the CWC meeting, however, many CWC members of the party had defended Khand and protested the call raised by the general secretary duo, Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, to suspend him. 

Through its CWC meeting, the Congress party has also recommended that the government ensure good governance, control corruption and uphold transparency and accountability, as desired by the people. The party has also called on the government to improve services provided through government offices.  Although there have been some improvements in the procedures for obtaining essential documents such as passports, national identity cards, driver’s licenses, etc., the NC has demanded “immediate and meaningful” improvements from the government to create a situation that can be felt by the consumers.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war made negative impacts on the production and distribution systems worldwide, affecting our society as well, according to NC, consequently, industrialists, traders, businessmen, farmers, and laborers are worried about running their businesses and maintaining their daily lives.
The coalition government formed in this situation is working to address these problems, and there have been some signs of improvement in the economy recently, the NC has said.

“To make these reforms comprehensive and sustainable, to strengthen the economy, and to make the banking system accessible to the general public, the Nepali Congress draws the government's attention to make important decisions on this sensitive issue,” the party stated.

While the government is taking meaningful initiatives to control price increases and shortages, it is the state’s duty to ensure smooth supplies of essential commodities to the people and provide relief to the people. So, the Congress has requested the government to conduct a proper study of low-income families, daily wage earners, street vendors who have been displaced and are currently employed, and make necessary decisions for their livelihood.

The CWC meeting also requested the government to conduct a serious and in-depth investigation into the smuggling of 100 kg gold through the Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office and bring the culprits to book.

The party has also drawn the government’s attention toward shortage of fertilizers and seeds that farmers have been facing during the cultivation season. Due to low rainfall, paddy transplantation has not taken place on one-thirds of the land, which has had a negative impact not only on the daily life and annual income of farmers but also on the national domestic product, the party has said, calling on the government to provide fertilizer and seeds to the affected farmers at concessional prices.

The NC has also raised the issue of lumpy skin disease, which has killed and affected thousands of cattle across the country. The infection has become particularly hard on cattle farmers due to the ongoing economic recession, the party has said, urging the government to provide compensation to the affected farmers and distribute vaccines at the earliest.

The Congress party has also expressed concern that the paddy output could drop this year due to low rainfall. This could have a negative impact on the daily life and annual income of farmers, as well as the overall GDP of the country, the party has said. The NC has asked the government to take proper strategic precautions and manage possible food shortage.

The party has urged the government to declare areas where paddy transplantation is not possible due to delayed or insufficient rains as 'dry areas' and provide necessary relief and compensation to the farmers. Additionally, the NC has also called on the government to provide compensation to victims of floods, landslides, and other catastrophes in different parts of the country.

Similarly, the NC has urged the government to support the people who have been affected due to the wrong intentions of some microfinance banks and cooperatives. The party has asked the government to deliver justice to the depositors and take necessary decisions to support borrowers who have not been able to repay their loans taken on group guarantees.

The NC has also concluded that the enactment of the Citizenship Act, initiated by the party, has brought smiles to the faces of people. The party has requested the government to prepare Citizenship Regulations at the earliest and facilitate the process of citizenship distribution.

Stating that transitional justice laws are crucial to bringing lasting peace in the country, the NC has asked the government to pass transitional justice bills from both Houses of parliament by forging consensus among all parties.

The NC has also drawn the attention of the government to the need to bring crucial laws like the Federal Civil Service Act, Federal Police Act, Federal Education Act, among others, which are crucial for the smooth implementation of federalism.

Stating that groundwater levels in the Tarai Madhes region are depleting due to the impacts of climate change and environmental impacts on the Chure region, the NC has asked the government to find out the reasons behind this and provide a solution to the problem.

Nepali Congress (NC) Spokesperson and Finance Minister Dr Prakash Saran Mahat said that the party adheres to a policy of zero- tolerance against corruption and irregularities.

Speaking at a press meet held at the NC central office in Lalitpur on Wednesday to unveil the decisions of the party's central working committee, the leader said, "The Congress always stands for good governance."

He added that the Nepali Congress is committed to not protecting any individuals involved in any offense.

Mahat said every person is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law.

According to the party spokesperson, the Nepali Congress has lifted its disciplinary action against rival candidates in the latest three-level elections.

Nepali Congress former general secretary Dr Shashank Koirala said that there is no alternative to Nepali Congress in the Nepali politics.

Stating that the Nepali Congress led all changes that took place so far in the country, he said that if unity is intact within the party, no force could defeat it.

The NC is the vehicle for the country's development and the only one party that can bring economic prosperity in the country, Koirala said.

The leader was speaking at a tea reception organized here in honor of NC office-bearers and members on Tuesday.

NC President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka, General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa, Joint General Secretaries Bhishma Raj Aandembe, Badri Prasad Pandey and Jiban Pariyar, party spokesperson and Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat and leader Dr Shekhar Koirala were present on the occasion.

The ongoing Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the ruling Nepali Congress underpins the fact that the grand old party is a deeply divided house. The party is not even one when it comes to the issue of investigating and prosecuting corruption scandals involving their own leaders. 

The CWC gathering also showed that its president, Sher Bahadur Deuba, for better or worse, remains a force to reckon with in the party, and that the general secretary duo, Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Parkash Sharma, are not as popular as one believes them to be—not at least among the CWC members.  

Remember the situation of the ruling Nepali Congress before the oft-deferred CWC? Scores of leaders including Thapa and Sharma were critical of Deuba for running the party like a hegemon, without a care for party statute or internal democracy. 

Thapa even contested and lost the Parliamentary Party leader election against Deuba. Other leaders in the NC meanwhile talked about convening the special general convention to replace Deuba.  

At the time it seemed that the Congress president had fallen out of favor, especially after he failed to give continuity to the electoral alliance forged with the CPN (Maoist Center) immediately after the general elections of November last year (the alliance did get continuity eventually after a short-lived ruling partnership between the CPN-UML and Maoists). Deuba took even more battering from his party colleagues following the by-election outcome in Tanahun-1, which was won by Swarnim Wagle of the Rastriya Swatantra Party. Wagle, a former Congress member, had only just quit his old party expressing displeasure with Deuba and his coterie. His electoral victory was resounding and that too in the traditional political base of the NC.    

Many Congress leaders and members demanded answers from Deuba. They wanted a meeting of the CWC, which had not been held for nearly a year even though the party statute requires it to be convened every two months. 

Meanwhile Deuba remained unfazed and continued to maintain silence, even when the fake Bhutanese refugee scandal broke out, which led to the arrest of his close confidant and former home minister, Bal Krishna Khand.    

When Deuba finally agreed to call the CWC meeting, many had expected that he would face harsh criticisms from the leaders for his wilful leadership. There was a litany of complaints against the NC president, ranging from taking unilateral decisions on party as well as national affairs to failing to fix the date of policy convention and not appointing the chiefs of party departments. 

But the CWC meeting saw a different—and unexpected—scenario. It was Thapa and Sharma who got the thrashing for airing the party’s dirty laundry in public. Ironically, the meeting was live streamed for the first time in the party’s history.

The two general secretaries were reprimanded for ruining the party’s image with their call for a leadership change. Several CWC members even excoriated Thapa and Sharma for supporting Khand’s arrest in the refugee scam. The majority of the CWC members are of the view that Khand should be protected and that he must not be suspended from the party. 

What transpired at the CWC meeting is a serious blow to Thapa, who is preparing to fight for party presidency in the next general convention. It is apparent that his party colleagues are not ready to back him.

Despite being popular at the cadre level, Thapa does not have a strong sway among central members of the party.

Senior leader Shekhar Koirala, another party leadership hopeful, remained largely silent throughout what could be dubbed as the trial of Thapa and Sharma. The scion of NC founding leader BP Koirala is said to be maintaining a distance from Thapa to win Deuba’s support in the party leadership race.

As a general secretary, Thapa presented a political document at the meeting, which also faced criticisms from several CWC members. Arzoo Rana Deuba termed the document as a “wish list of non-governmental organizations” that offers no clear direction to the party or the country.

Dozens of CWC members appreciated Deuba’s leadership. Surendra Pandey blamed Thapa and Sharma of spreading negativity against the party president. If Deuba sinks, he warned, both general secretaries and the party will sink.  

Leader Mohan Basnet, also the health minister, criticized Thapa and Sharma for trying to widen the factional rift in the party. 

Ahead of the CWC meeting, the two general secretaries had convened a meeting of district presidents which was boycotted by Deuba and his supporters

Another key agenda of Thapa and Sharma was fighting the next general elections alone, without forming any electoral alliance. Thapa had even suggested leaving the current coalition if the government fails to deliver on its promises.  

But the issue too did not get much support from the CWC members.  

Leader Badri Panday said as the elections are still four years away, there is no need to take any decisions on electoral alliance. 

According to CWC member Bhishma Raj Angdembe, the meeting indicates that the popularity graphs of both general secretaries are going down, while the graph of Deuba is going up. 

After listening to the largely unfavorable views of the CWC members for days, it was time for Thapa and Sharma to speak on Monday. Both of them appeared somewhat defensive. They even softened their positions on several issues. 

Regarding the issue of electoral alliance, Thapa said he was in favor of continuing the current alliance with the Maoist Center until the next general elections. On the issue of leadership change too, Thapa seemed flexible, saying that he wanted to promote internal democracy and the culture of healthy debate inside the party. 

He added that the Nepali citizens were increasingly growing despondent with the current political state of affairs, and that it was upon the Congress party to lead them out of this situation. But first, Thapa told the CWC meeting, the Nepali Congress party should put its house in order.

Sharma reiterated that the NC needs a deep retrospection in order to find its footing to lead the country.

An important meeting of the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee is taking place from tomorrow (Tuesday) after a long time. The Congress has not held a meet of this scale after the last general elections, so this jamboree will be quite important in reinvigorating the party by giving it a fresh impetus. 

The meeting will take up all issues of national importance like measures to end corruption control and ensure good governance. Probing corruption cases without let or hindrance will be one of the important agendas of the meet. 

It will review decisions of the party leadership, ways to play a more effective role in the Parliament and to move ahead by adopting a new approach. The aim will be to energize the party rank and file at all levels. The focus will be on making the party’s stance clear on policy issues, apart from delivering on the promises made. 

The author is a Central Committee Member of the Congress