KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress (NC) has temporarily postponed the process of selecting its parliamentary party leader in the House of Representatives.
Party sources said the election process, which had already begun, has been put on hold for the time being. No further details on the reasons behind the postponement have been officially disclosed.
After nearly a month of deadlock, the Nepali Congress—the main opposition party—was set to choose its parliamentary party leader today (Friday).
A committee led by joint general secretary Prakash Rasaili Snehi, along with central member Muna Bhusal and advocate Raju Katuwal, was assigned to oversee the election.
The Nepali Congress, which has 38 MPs in the House of Representatives (HoR), was likely to witness a three-way contest for the parliamentary party leadership. Arjun Narasingh KC, Bhishmaraj Angdambe, and Mohan Acharya were expected to compete for the position.
Angdambe was another strong contender. A long-time ally of Sher Bahadur Deuba, he entered Parliament through the proportional representation system and has firmly stated that he will not withdraw from the race.
The party is currently facing internal divisions, with tensions between the old and new establishments persisting even after the general convention.
Likewise, Mohan Acharya was also in the race for the parliamentary party leadership. He is believed to have the backing of party President Gagan Thapa.
Thapa is reportedly not in favor of appointing leaders elected through the proportional representation system. Having secured a direct electoral victory himself, he prefers a leader who has also been directly elected and whom he personally trusts.
In this context, Mohan Acharya—who has consistently won direct elections from Rasuwa—has emerged as Thapa’s preferred candidate. Acharya and Thapa are known to share a close relationship dating back years, further strengthening his candidacy.
The leader of the main opposition party holds significant political weight, often regarded as an alternative prime minister and the head of the shadow government. The position also carries constitutional importance, as the leader serves as a member of the Constitutional Council responsible for appointing key officials to constitutional bodies.
Given these responsibilities, the selection of the parliamentary party leader is crucial. Moreover, in a historic party like the Nepali Congress, holding this position significantly elevates a leader’s political stature, making it highly sought after.
Comment