KATHMANDU: Many second-tier leaders close to former Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba accepted an invitation from party President Gagan Thapa and attended Thursday’s Central Working Committee meeting.
Meanwhile, top leaders including Deuba, Prakashman Singh, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Bimalendra Nidhi, Dr Shashank Koirala, Ramesh Lekhak, NP Saud, Deepak Khadka and Kanchharam Tamang held separate discussions at the party’s Chundevi liaison office.
According to NC leader Prakash Man Singh, who attended the discussion at Chundevi, Deuba remains firm that the 15th General Convention should be held by the Working Committee elected by the 14th General Convention. Singh said he does not support accepting the move, arguing that the Gagan Thapa faction unilaterally called a special general convention.
Khabarhub spoke to Nepali Congress leader Prakash Man Singh about the activities of the Deuba faction. Edited excerpts:
Many leaders went to Sanepa on Thursday as part of efforts to unify the Nepali Congress. What is your take on this?
We don’t care where they went. However, we are still holding discussions. We are preparing to hold the 15th General Convention. Our leaders maintain that the 15th General Convention should be held under the leadership of the Working Committee elected by the 14th General Convention. Deuba and I are not joining the Gagan Thapa-led Nepali Congress. We are preparing separately. We will hold our General Convention.
What did you discuss at Thursday’s meeting in Chundevi?
We discussed holding the 15th regular General Convention. We are preparing to hold the 15th General Convention through the Working Committee elected by the 14th General Convention.
Has there been no discussion about unity?
No, no. It has been a year since we were united, and they have been following their own course. We are now focused on our own preparations. We will move from the 14th General Convention to the 15th General Convention. Our tradition is that the Working Committee elected by the 14th General Convention holds the 15th General Convention.
Many of your party leaders gathered in Sanepa on Thursday, right?
One or two people may have gone. But how many leaders actually went? You can calculate it yourself.
What was Deuba’s reaction?
He has been saying that we should go to the regular General Convention. The 14th Working Committee will hold the 15th General Convention. He is clear that the same Working Committee led by Sher Bahadur Deuba Dai will hold the 15th General Convention.
What is the point of agreement now?
If we continue with the 14th General Convention and begin preparations for the 15th General Convention, we will be able to reach an agreement. There is no other way to resolve the differences.
Gagan Thapa has been calling Sher Bahadur Deuba and saying that they are willing to accept many of the points you have raised, move forward together, respect you and have you inaugurate the programme. What do you say to that?
A special general convention has been forcibly held without following the party’s rules, policies and principles, and there is no way we can accept that. Since the special general convention was not held in accordance with the party’s rules and policies, we have not recognized it. Therefore, we will recognize the 14th General Convention and hold the 15th General Convention accordingly.
You did not allow Sher Bahadur Deuba to reach an agreement. What about Gagan Thapa?
Can anyone say that Sher Bahadur Deuba should not be allowed to reach an agreement? Shouldn’t he be allowed to exercise his own discretion? Can someone who is the supreme leader of the party not understand this much? There appears to be an intention somewhere to humiliate him, and such activities should be stopped. Whoever made such a statement, it is nothing but childish.
Gagan Thapa and Deuba are meeting and talking, right?
Sher Bahadur Deuba has not informed us about such a meeting. I don’t think that has happened yet.
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