In a temporary arrangement to mobilise the party’s provincial structures and to make preparations for the National Assembly elections, the Nepali Congress (NC) has deputed Central Working Committee members as its central representatives to the seven provinces.

They are charged with overseeing all the activities of the party in the provinces. According to the decision, CWC member Minendra Rijal has been deputed to Province 1, Bimalendra Nidhi to Province 2, Dina Upadhaya to Province 3, Govinda Bhattarai to Province 4, Balkrishna Khand to Province 5, Hridhayaram Thani to Province 6 and NP Saud to Province 7. They will guide all the activities related to the party and the National Assembly (NA) elections.

The NC took the decision after party leaders and cadres complained of difficulties while carrying out party activities in the absence of provincial structures. The country is in the midst of implementing the federal structure but the NC is yet to reshape its organisation. A meeting of the Mahasamiti is authorised to change the party statute to outline the party’s federal organisational structure.

“They will oversee and take leadership of all party activities in the provinces including preparation of a strategy for the NA election,” said NC Spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma.

By Monday, all the seven provincial assemblies will hold their first meeting but the NC is yet to pick the Parliamentary Party (PP) leader in the respective provinces. Even if the NC is not in a position to form government in any of the seven provinces, selection of PP leaders is mandatory as s/he serves as the leader of the opposition.

The NC has formed a task force to prepare for the PP leader election and to draft the statute and the working procedure for running the party’s provincial structures. A committee led by Rijal is drafting the working procedure. “We are planning to prepare all the documents within a week,” said Sharma.

The central representatives are also making preparations for forging alliances with fringe parties in the NA elections. According to leaders, there are few chances of the NC winning even a single seat in Province 3 even as it has forged alliances with the Naya Shakti Nepal Party and the Bibeksheel Sajha Party. NC leaders see a tough competition in the province. 

Congress leaders hope to win 10-12 seats among the 56 in the elections scheduled for Wednesday. Three more members are appointed by the President on the government’s recommendation. It is not sure yet whether the incumbent or a new government will make the recommendations.

 

KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress on Thursday directed its Provincial Assembly members and chiefs and deputy chiefs of all the local governments to reach their respective provinces by Monday and prepare for the National Assembly election. Provincial Assembly members and chiefs and deputy chiefs of the local federal units are the voters in the NA elections scheduled for February 7. According to a statement, NC central office Secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel instructed them to keep in touch with the party’s candidates in the provinces and to vote for them. (PR)

 

Minendra Rijal Province 1

Bimalendra Nidhi Province 2

Dina Upadhaya Province 3

Govinda Bhattarai Province 4

Balkrishna Khand Province 5

Hridhayaram Thani Province 6

NP Saud Province 7