KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Pradeep Poudel has said former party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s return to Nepal should be utilized as an opportunity to intensify efforts toward party unity.
Poudel said the faction led by Deuba should present a clear roadmap for unifying the Nepali Congress following its national gathering. He maintained that there is no longer any possibility of forming a separate party and urged all sides to abide by the court’s decision on the ongoing dispute.
Poudel expressed confidence that the ongoing legal process could ultimately pave the way for reconciliation within the party, arguing that the special general convention was held in accordance with legal and procedural provisions.
He also said the party’s establishment faction had not been formally informed about Deuba’s arrival in Nepal. According to Poudel, Deuba should remain neutral, listen to the views of all sides and assume the role of a guardian to help resolve the party’s internal differences. Excerpts from an interview with Poudel:
Has the possibility of Nepali Congress unity disappeared?
The possibility of forming another party is now over. Everyone is in a situation where they will have to remain within the party and continue their political struggle from within. There is no possibility of forming another party now.
What if they decide to form another party?
The issue is currently before the court, and everyone must accept its decision. No one will move ahead to register another party. The scattered members of the Nepali Congress will ultimately move forward together.
What if the court gives legitimacy to the 14th General Convention?
Is that really a possibility? Was a general convention attended by 54 percent of the delegates merely a joke? Whatever the court decides, we will accept it. Once the court settles the dispute between the two sides, the current disagreement within the party will come to an end.
Is your strategy to ignore the national gathering organized by the other faction until the court gives its verdict?
What would we achieve by ignoring their gathering? We are the official Nepali Congress, but we could not go there and speak because it was their gathering.
We have already put forward seven points. What should be changed in those points? What should be added? We have asked them to endorse those issues through their national gathering. We have also said that we are ready for communication, negotiation and reconciliation.
So how can we ignore their gathering? However, we need to see whether their gathering will ultimately produce a conclusion that contributes to the unification of the Nepali Congress.
Did talks stop after Sher Bahadur Deuba returned to Nepal?
Yes, there has been no dialogue since then. Our former president has returned to Nepal, and we want to welcome him.
Our request is that he should try to reconcile everyone—not by taking sides, but by acting as a neutral guardian of the Nepali Congress. It would be positive if he took the initiative to create an environment conducive to reconciliation. That is our expectation from him.
Why didn’t you go to welcome Deuba when he arrived in Nepal?
We were not given any official information. How could we go without being formally informed? We were also occupied with our own party activities. We will meet him now.
Did Deuba’s move to establish a separate party office in Chundevi and act as president affect you?
This issue is laughable. The Nepali Congress is a party that follows the rule of law and its established policies. No matter how serious the internal conflict becomes, the party has historically sought unity through adherence to law and established procedures. This, too, has become somewhat childish.
They should themselves analyze what it means to disregard the rule of law and the decisions of the court and Election Commission. They need to consider whether the rule of law will continue to prevail after such actions. I do not want to say much more on the matter. I will leave it to them to decide.
The faction has stated in its documents and speeches that the 15th General Convention should be held only under the leadership of Sher Bahadur Deuba. Is that possible?
Do you see the rule of law in a demand that the 15th General Convention be held under Deuba’s leadership, or do you see it as an unnecessary condition? If even a small child or anyone guided by conscience cannot recognize the situation, how are we supposed to interpret it?
We are people who still believe in policies, statutes and principles. If negotiations are conducted while maintaining such a position, there is no way to reach an agreement.
Our objective is to transform the Nepali Congress into a united and dynamic force by combining the aspirations and energy of the younger generation with the experience of senior leaders.
And do you know something? This demand is not Deuba’s. Someone else is putting the blame on him. I do not believe Deuba wants to divide the Congress. Rather, this reflects the weakness of those advising him.
I do not think Deuba himself intended to return to Nepal and establish a separate party office while claiming the presidency. Others are trying to put him in that position.
Those who do not want Congress unity, who repeatedly drag the party into controversy and who refuse to accept leadership are giving Deuba the wrong message. Deuba himself did not want the 15th General Convention to be held under his leadership.
Our request to respected Sher Bahadur Deuba is simple: sit in the middle. Distinguish between right and wrong. Do not act on the basis of demands and prejudices. Respect the decisions of the Supreme Court and the Election Commission. Help resolve the dispute.
Since neither side appears ready to give up its position, a common ground has not yet emerged. What is the key to finding a genuine compromise?
First, you have to identify the actual problem before you can find common ground. What exactly is their problem? There cannot be one position officially and another position informally.
The issue should arise naturally and be grounded in principle. We should follow what the law, party statute and established policies prescribe. Once that is settled, it is our responsibility to hold the 15th General Convention, and we will move toward it.
But simply holding the 15th General Convention is not enough. It must be a convention that includes everyone. For that, impartiality must be maintained and an environment must be created in which everyone has confidence.
What needs to be done to achieve that? We are ready. We need them to clearly state what their specific concerns are so that we can address them and find a way toward reconciliation.
We are ready to unite the Nepali Congress. But they must accept the party’s policies and legitimate leadership. It is not appropriate to move forward with unnecessary demands. Such demands undermine the rule of law and allow individual interests to overshadow the institutional character of the Nepali Congress.
If the leadership is accepted, will everything be resolved?
It is not a matter of us demanding that they accept our leadership. If leadership has emerged through a lawful process, is refusing to accept it not itself a rejection of the rule of law? Isn’t it everyone’s responsibility to accept what has been determined according to the law?
So, is a meeting being arranged between the leadership of the special General Convention and former President Sher Bahadur Deuba?
We want to meet the former president, and efforts are underway to arrange such a meeting. We will meet him after their gathering concludes. They should also help create an environment conducive to dialogue.
Will you make it clear during the meeting that you cannot go to the 15th General Convention under Deuba’s leadership?
Why not? Our position is clear. We cannot accept leadership simply on the basis of a demand that disregards established methods and procedures and then proceed to the 15th General Convention. Instead, we want Deuba to act as a guardian.
There will be no situation where we have to say, “Accept us, accept us.” What I want to emphasize today is this: If former President Deuba genuinely wants to unite the Congress, he should act as its guardian. He should not go around taking sides or trying to impose a position. We should sit together in the middle and work toward resolving the problem rather than forcing an outcome.
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