The Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress that began in Lalitpur on Sunday stressed that the participation of the Madhes-based parties in the upcoming local level elections should be ensured by addressing their demands.

The meeting also started discussion on the local polls scheduled for May 14 and the party’s preparations for it, focussing on the need for creating the political environment necessary for the vote.

The meeting decided to form a 29-memebr central executive committee, fixed 42 central departments of the party, formed a panel headed by Mahesh Acharya to draft the party’s election manifesto and formed an election mobilisation committee led by Ram Chandra Poudel.

A majority of the party’s central members denied the possibility of holding the local elections only in six provinces, leaving Province 2, as some have suggested as a way to avoid confrontation, where the Madhes-based parties that have stood against the scheduled polls without constitutional amendments have strong presence.

CWC member Man Bahadur Bishwokarma told the Post that a majority of the CWC members said the NC, as the largest party in Parliament, should address the grievances of the Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of seven regional parties, which has been protesting with a demand for amending several provisions of the new constitution. The party should bring all the sections of society on board, a majority of the participants told the leadership.

In order to ensure the participation of the Madhes-based parties in the elections, they want the party to push the constitution amendment proposal. Congress leaders wanted the constitution amendment bill presented in the House for a vote, at least.

Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi and senior leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula reported the progress made in talks with the Madhes-based parties. Both the leaders said passing the constitution amendment bill would create an environment conducive to holding the polls.

The leaders participating in the meeting demanded the criteria for selecting candidates for the local level polls. They suggested that the party’s regional committees should recommend the candidates for local polls, which should be approved by the NC district committee and the party’s central body.

Shekhar criticises party leadershipNC central member Shehar Koirala objected to the nominations for the party’s central executive committee formed on Sunday.

Koirala questioned the basis for selection of the committee members. Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, who led the committee, had picked 29 members for the committee.

Speaking at the CWC meeting, Koirala said party supporters were frustrated at the political mess, the NC’s performance in national politics, and the failure to reshape the party in the federal structure.

He also criticised the NC leadership for failing to address the problems facing party cadres affected by the decade-long conflict and the lack of vibrancy in the party organisation. In a note of dissent, he came down heavily on Deuba for not appointing the office bearers, not forming the party departments, lack of institutional decision making and growing “nepotism” in the party. 

Koirala also criticised the controversial appointment of Nepal Police inspector general that was annulled by the Supreme Court and the nomination of ambassadors.

Central executive committee

Sher Bahadur Deuba

Ram Chandra Poudel

Shashank Koirala

Sitadevi Yadav

Prakashman Singh

Krishna Prasad Sitaula

Gopalman Shrestha

Bimalendra Nidhi

Kul Bahadur Gurung

Khum Bahadur Khadka

Chitralekha Yadav

Purna Bahadur Khadka

Ram Sharan Mahat

Arjun Narsingh KC

Bal Bahadur KC

Mahesh Acharya

Narahari Acharya

Pradeep Giri

Bal Krishna Khand

Gyanendra Bahadur Karki

Ramesh Rijal

Narayan Khadka

Minendra Rijal

Prakash Sharan Mahat

Farmulla Mansoor

Man Bahadur Bishwokarma

Sujata Koirala

Dilendra Prasad Badu

NP Saud