Top Nepali Congress leaders are sharply divided over increasing the number of positions in the seven-member Officer Bearers, and appointing more Central Working Committee (CWC) members.

As a result, the statute amendment report prepared by the Ananda Prasad Dhungana-led committee, which proposes a rise in the number of key positions as well as the CWC membership, has not been tabled at the central committee.

Before party president Sushil Koirala’s demise, the establishment faction was one on increasing the number of key positions. But now, even the establishment camp leaders are divided, according to insiders.

President hopefuls from the establishment camp Prakash Man Singh and Krishna Prasad Sitaula maintain that senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba’s consent is necessary to present the amendment proposal to the CWC. Normally, any decision regarding statute amendment is taken on the basis of broader consensus in the party.

“There are disputes inside the party about increasing the number of office bearers. Such decisions should be made in consensus,” said General Secretary Singh.

The Dhungana-led committee has proposed three vice-presidents,

three general secretaries, seven joint general secretaries and a treasurer in the party nucleus.

Currently, there are one vice-president, two general secretaries, a joint-general secretary and a treasurer. According to the amendment draft, joint general secretaries are to be in charge of the party’s seven provincial committees. The Dhungana-led committee has proposed 97-member CWC, which is 85-member currently. Since the Deuba faction opposes the proposal, it has not been presented for endorsement.

The statute amendment proposal is stuck as the top leaders allegedly view it to their own personal gains during the March 3-6 convention.

Acting NC President Ram Chandra Poudel wants more positions to accommodate top leaders of the establishment camp.

However, there is agreement in the leadership about increasing reservation quotas for women, Dalits, Muslims and other marginalised communities to meet the constitutional requirements. There is also consensus about electing three CWC members, including one woman, from each province.

Central members want policy rewritten

Nepali Congress leaders have said that the preliminary draft of the party’s policies and programmes, which has been tabled at the Central Working Committee, fails to provide a clear direction for the party.

Commenting on the draft, some of them demanded rewriting the document on the basis of intensive discussions in the party. The document was prepared by a committee led by Acting President Ram Chandra Poudel.

“The draft is unworthy even of criticism,” said leader Prakash Sharan Mahat. “It contains nothing new. It should be rewritten.” Even leaders from the establishment camp criticised the document. Others allege that Poudel, who is busy with the election campaign, has failed to prioritise the policies and programmes.

Since the policy is the first after the country got its new constitution, party leaders said, the document should provide clear direction for the party’s political, economic and social agendas. Some want the party to now focus on the country’s economic development. Following the criticisms, the CWC meeting on Thursday entrusted the Poudel-led committee to rework the draft to incorporate the suggestions.

CWC member Nabindra Raj Joshi said discussions on the party ideology were always overshadowed as leaders are competing for the leadership. He said the party leadership has not paid attention to ideological discussions after the political change of 1990.

No graffiti, posters

The NC has decided not to paint walls and put up posters in order to check pollution during its general convention. According to Publicity Department chief Minendra Rijal, the party will use Facebook and Twitter to disseminate information related to the convention.

The party has formed several subcommittees to prepare for the jamboree. A panel led by Harihar Birahi will oversee archiving while Kabir Rana will head the media centre management team. Badri Sigdel has been assigned to take care of international relations. Tej Prakash Pandit will publish bulletins and Damodar Dawadi will handle publications related to the convention. (PR)