Nepali Congress (NC) senior leaders have raised objection to party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s decision to leave the Socialist International, with whom the party had affiliation for over six decades, and join the recently established Progressive Alliance.

Anti-establishment leaders including NC senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel, General Secretary Shashank Koirala, former General Secretaries Prakash Man Singh, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, and leader Arjun Narsingh KC, among other leaders, have expressed dissent over the unilateral decision taken by the party president.

NC senior leader Poudel informed that Deuba did not hold any discussions regarding the decision to join the Progressive Alliance, which was formed just five-years-ago. “Where will the party end up with this working style of Deuba?” said Poudel talking to the Post, “BP Koirala joined the Socialist International and created an image of the party and himself as a socialist and leaving the six-decade long alliance with the organisation is a serious matter.”

The party, along with the Progressive Alliance, is holding a meet at the Himalayan Hotel in the Capital on Friday and Saturday. However, the NC anti-establishment faction, issuing a press statement, has expressed surprise over the party being a part of the programme and condemned the move saying that the faction leaders will not take part in the programme.

Meanwhile, some of the leaders of the party establishment faction have also expressed their reservation regarding the party president’s decision. As a result, NC President Deuba will not be attending the meeting, it is learnt. Deuba is likely to send joint General Secretary Prakash Sharan Mahat as the representative from party to the programme.