Senior Nepali Congress (NC) leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said on Tuesday that addressing Madhes problem, keeping the party united and consolidating democratic system in the country will be his key priorities as the party president if gets elected from the party’s 13th General Convention to be held from Thursday to Sunday.

In an interview with The Kathmandu Post, Deuba, a key candidate for the post of party president, said that he viewed implementation of the constitution as the major challenge. Stating that the first amendment to constitution has addressed some demands of Madhes, Deuba said some problems, however, still remain and one of them is boundary demarcation. “If demarcation and other issues are addressed, it would bridge a psychological gap that exists between the hills and the Tarai,” he said, without prescribing any specific formula for resolving the issue. For the implementation of the constitution, Deuba said, there is a need for a developing sense of ownership in every section of society. “For this,” Deuba said, “There is a need for expediting the implementation of the inclusive principles, providing justice to all people and ensuring wider participation.”

The three-time prime minister said the new constitution is a document of compromise among parties and that it has consolidated fundamental principles of democracy. “The credit for all these goes to the Congress,” Deuba said.

In-laws of equilibrium

Though Sher Bahadur Deuba will announce his full team on Thursday, Arjun Narasingh KC on Tuesday announced his candidacy for the post of general secretary from the Deuba camp. This will pit KC against his son-in-law Gagan Thapa, who has been picked by Krishna Prasad Sitaula, a leader from the establishment faction who is set to announce his candidacy for party presidency on Wednesday, for the post of general secretary.

Thapa is under pressure from his family members not to contest against his father-in-law.

KC rushed his unilateral announcement to preempt Deuba from choosing Shashak Koirala for the post of general secretary, in the event the equation changes in the Poudel camp.

Deuba is in consultation with Shashank Koirala to offer him the post of general secretary. Deuba’s supporters have advised him that KC cannot contribute substantial votes so he should choose another leader from establishment faction.