Nepali Congress leader and a candid orator, Amresh Kumar Singh talks about intra-party wrangling while emphasizing on holding party’s general convention to elect new visionary leadership. Khabarhub caught up with Singh, who is also a parliamentarian, and talked about contemporary issues. Excerpts:

Nepali Congress is currently entangled in internal wrangling. What do you think is the best way out to end this bickering?

I believe that holding the party’s general convention within the stipulated time is the only way out to resolve the ongoing intra-party squabbling. I have been reiterating that the party’s convention should not be extended on any pretext except under unavoidable circumstances. There are possibilities the party leadership could bring a justification to extend it to their benefits. The problem is compounded by the fact that the party leadership is unable to constitute the party departments as of yet.

What is your speculation about the new party leadership? What will be your role?

It is high time that the leadership handed over the party’s reins to the younger generation. I am against the idea of a leader – over 70 years of age — taking the reins of the party. Unfortunately, the party has not seen a charismatic and competent leader in the last several years. My role would be to lobby for the right, capable and a sincere leader, who can run the party by encompassing all factions together. The party has become defunct on all fronts due to the lack of visionary leadership, and you can see the consequences now. Moreover, leaders lack self-realization. Senior party leaders are gearing more towards becoming junior kings.

Does this mean that second-rung leaders are disappointed? Have you thought about taking charge of the party leadership?

In fact, there are instances which have disheartened the leaders. As I said, the leadership should be able to move ahead by taking into confidence all party leaders. About my leadership, time will tell (laughs). We all need to wait for the right time.

Nepali Congress has failed to prove itself as a strong opposition. Reason?

As I said earlier, NC is entangled in intra-party disputes. True, we have, failed to raise voices strongly in the parliament on contemporary issues. I would say that NC is still a strong party full of dynamism. Unfortunately, the incompetence on the part of the leadership has weakened the party. The party’s general convention will elect a new leadership, who is visionary and capable, and who will be able to take the party to a new height. Since people are gradually getting frustrated with the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), there is a chance for NC to win their hearts. Unfortunately, our party has not been able to attract people due to the lack of visionary leadership.

Aren’t you responsible for the party’s debilities?

Let me clarify. Our party is based on a presidential system, and other leaders do not have much say. Moreover, NC is not only the party that has lost is credibility, but even the ruling NCP leadership has also been losing its grip within the party. Moreover, the NCP has not been able to control corruption.

You talked about corruption. What is your take on the wide-body issue? Who do you think is responsible for this?

In fact, the government should take the moral responsibility for the rampant corruption – be it the wide-body issue of other cases such as Nepal Oil Corporation land deal, or the infamous 33-kilogram gold case. NC, as the main opposition in the parliament, should have protested intensely against corruption. But until and unless the government is accountable, the opposition is helpless. Moreover, the government has failed in all aspects, including maintaining law and order situation and delivering good governance. It is also involved in corruption.

Don’t you think that the previous NC-led government is equally responsible for the current state of affairs?

To be precise, we all have to understand that former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba led a coalition government. Therefore, it could not deliver much. Moreover, the government was fully occupied with conducting the much-awaited elections in the country. Therefore, in my opinion, this government with a two-third majority is more responsible for the deteriorating situation. See, all indices of the country are negative and every sector is almost defunct. The country has become a playground for foreigners due to the weak foreign policy. In fact, I would say, the Office of the Prime Minister is defunct.