KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress leader Dr Shashank Koirala has said Sher Bahadur Deuba remains the party’s president, expressing confidence that the disputes within the party will be resolved after Deuba returns to Nepal.
Koirala made the remarks while speaking to journalists at Tribhuvan International Airport on Thursday, where he had arrived to welcome Deuba, who is returning to Nepal after nearly five months of medical treatment abroad.
Koirala, who also coordinates the organising committee of the rival faction’s national gathering, said his faction was not in favour of splitting the party and that its efforts were focused on keeping the Congress united.
“Our president is Sher Bahadur dai. Our efforts are also aimed at party unity. We are not in favour of division. Everything will be settled after Sher Bahadur dai returns,” Koirala said.
Deuba had travelled abroad for treatment after sustaining serious injuries during the protests of September 8 and 9.
His return has once again brought the leadership dispute within the Nepali Congress into focus.
The Gagan Thapa-led faction has already held a special general convention, arguing that the party could not contest elections under Deuba’s leadership. Thapa was elected president from the special convention held in late December.
However, leaders from the Deuba faction have refused to recognise Thapa as the party president.
Meanwhile, former Nepali Congress general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula has also maintained that Deuba remains the party president.
Speaking at Tribhuvan International Airport, Sitaula said Deuba would continue as president until the party’s next general convention.
“Until the next general convention of the Nepali Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba is our president. We do not recognise whichever convention was held by others. The case has reached the court for review. We are confident that the court will give us justice,” Sitaula said.
Sitaula claimed that the Nepali Congress had not split and said further decisions on the party’s future course would be taken after Deuba’s return.
He said confusion had emerged over the party’s leadership because Deuba had been abroad for medical treatment.
“After tomorrow’s programme, we will decide how the party will move forward. The Congress has not split,” Sitaula said. “Party president Deuba was abroad receiving treatment because he was ill. He is returning to Nepal today. Therefore, the confusion that the Congress will split or that someone else is the party president will gradually be cleared.”
Sitaula also urged all party leaders and cadres to attend the gathering being organised to welcome Deuba and discuss the party’s future direction.
Asked whether the Thapa faction had not been invited to the gathering, Sitaula said Thapa had been invited because he remains the party’s general secretary.
“We have invited everyone. He is the general secretary, so there is no question of not inviting him. Through this information, I once again urge everyone to attend,” Sitaula said.
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