KATHMANDU: The intra-party row within the Nepali Congress (NC) has escalated with the disgruntled camp of the party announcing an agitation against the party leadership.
The displeased faction led by the party’s influential leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala on Monday announced what it said “agitation” against the leadership for being arbitrary and biased in the distribution of tickets for the November 20 elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly.
The section of the party that is frustrated and disgruntled with the high command’s strategy to “please the ruling partners” has warned of rebellion within the party.
Leaders of the dissident camp announced the agitation program accusing the latter of underestimating the party cadres’ contribution of late.
The Shekhar Koirala-Gagan Thapa faction of the party has accused Prime Minister and party President Sher Bahadur Deuba of marginalizing the genuine leaders and candidates and distributing tickets to the ones who joined the party lately.
As part of their phase-wise agitation, the disgruntled leaders are scheduled to hold a one-hour protest program at the party central office in Sanepa on September 28th.
They have already warned of rebellion if their group was not given a 40 percent share in the party.
The elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and Province Assembly are scheduled for November 20 this year and the NC seems to be witnessing a steady decline in its electoral fortunes because of the leadership’s “lack of sincerity” when it comes to addressing the voices of the disappointed camp within the party.
The faction led by Dr. Koirala has blamed the NC leadership for not sticking to a unanimous decision taken by the party but giving priority to the coalition and pleasing the Maoist Center and other parties.
Dr. Koirala and his camp have already begun assessing how much this crisis could hurt the party’s chances of holding on to power after the general elections.
Party insiders say NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba has not maintained flexibility over the camp’s demands for seats since he is more focused on keeping the ruling coalition intact.
The coalition partners, meanwhile, are taking advantage of NC’s weakness demanding that the NC should get not more than 80 seats in the HoR election.
The disgruntled camp has objected to the fact that the party leadership has single-handedly selected candidates for the Proportional Representation (PR) candidates.
Therefore, the camp, which has been insisting that the party should not compromise on less than 100 seats, is in a mood to revolt within the party if their demands were not met.
“We will be compelled to revolt within the party if tickets for the upcoming elections are not distributed to ensure that everyone in the party gets justice,” said NC leader, Guru Ghimire, recently.
Ghimire asked the office bearers of the camp not to remain silent when the leadership is doing injustice.
“I urge all leaders to raise their voices in favor of justice,” he added.
Earlier, Bhupendra Jung Shahi, too, warned he would contest the election to the HoR from Kalikot if the leadership did not give him a ticket.
“Even if I don’t get a ticket in the election, I will contest the election from Kalikot,” he said, adding, “We cannot remain mere spectators. The party leadership cannot treat us as servants.”
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