Ahead of the party’s Central Working Committee meeting scheduled for next week, the Nepali Congress faction led by Krishna Prasad Sitaula has come down heavily against party President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Sitaula organised a meeting of his supporters in Kathmandu on Friday to prepare a strategy for the upcoming CWC meeting. Sitaula, who closely worked with the late NC president Girija Prasad Koirala for long, formed a separate faction during the party’s general convention in 2016.

The factional gathering concluded that negative tendencies prevail over the NC leadership, badly affecting the party’s strength and organisation. Sitaula told his supporters that the party needs a roadmap to meet the challenges arising after its humiliating defeat in the federal and provincial elections.

The faction is preparing to present a separate document at the CWC meeting. Sitaula said his faction had provided a blank cheque to party chief Deuba, who would now receive only critical support from the group.

“All the top leaders including the general secretary have failed to steer the party effectively,” Sitaula remarked. Addressing the programme, youth leader Gagan Thapa said the party rank and file should not be discouraged by the poor election results.

“We still have power, strength and willpower to fight communist forces,” he said. Thapa suggested that the Congress leadership present its programmes and policies to guide national politics for the next 15 years. 

“If the party fails to sense the gravity of crisis, it will have a disaster,” Thapa observed. Another faction led by Ram Chandra Poudel has also been organising separate meetings. Both the factions are pressing Deuba to step down. Contrary to their calls, Deuba is consolidating his power. He won the Parliamentary Party leader position with more than double the votes of his competitor.

For the first time since the elections, the NC has called the CWC meeting to review the poll results. Despite calls to make the party united, factionalism has been rife in the NC. Major leaders engage in a blame-game over the poor performance in elections.

At the gathering called by Sitaula, youth leaders Gagan Thapa, Pradeep Poudel and Uma Kanta Chaudhary were among those present. According to Thapa, the gathering was called to solicit views of party leaders and cadres on how to reform the party. Sitaula also came down heavily against the government. He said Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had shown early signs of totalitarian rule. 

“I’ll stand firmly to tackle the totalitarian character of the government,” he said, advocating a stronger and united Congress to act as a strong opposition.