Newly elected President of Nepali Congress (NC) Sher Bahadur Deuba is planning an early Mahasamiti meeting to transform party structures as per the federal set up.

Mahasamiti is a powerful body mandated to take policy decision after party’s General Convention. As the convention held on March 3-6 did not take any decisions on party’s ideology, policy, programme and structures, a Mahasamiti meeting should be convened as soon as possible, leaders said, adding that such meeting would be called within six months.

Although the NC was the first party to hold its convention after constitution promulgation in September last year, it did not take detail decisions about transforming party structures. There were not any policy discussions as well due to time constraint. Election of two CWC members from seven provinces replacing zonal practices was the only federal provision made at the time.

It is yet to hold discussions on the organisational structures at federal provinces and its relation with organisations at grass-roots level.

“We are planning to call a Mahasamit meeting to accomplish the vital tasks which were not addressed by the convention,” said Bal Krishna Khand, an NC leader close to Deuba. “The tasks of amending party statute, making a new policy will be accorded top priority soon after the first CWC meeting,” Deuba said.

There are also discussions on increasing the size of office bearers from the current seven. That is why, the leaders say, Deuba is unlikely to take decision about appointing remaining members to the party’s office bearers. As the vote counting of Central Working Committee (CWC) members nears the final stages, Deuba has begun informal consultations about calling the Mahasamiti meeting.

Deuba also plans to take a decision regarding the NC active membership which has always been a bone of contention among rival factions at the time of party plenum. Leaders from the Deuba faction are against the provision of dual membership—ordinary and active members—at the grass roots level.  

Instituting a system in the party for selecting candidates for the parliamentary elections will be another agenda. As Deuba looks destined for at least 60 percent grip in the party structures, leaders say, it would be better to implement their agendas in the party.  

“I am in favour of having a Mahasamiti meeting every year so that intensive discussions on the party’s policy and course could take place,” said NC leader Nabindra Raj Joshi.