Nepali Congress leader Chandra Bhandari has pointed out party leadership’s failure to acknowledge the notion of nationalism in the wake of the Indian blockade for the party’s disappointing results in the federal parliament and provincial assembly elections.

Speaking at a press meet organised by Nepal Press Union Rupandehi Chapter in Butwal on Wednesday, leader Bhandari said the leadership did not pay any heed to suggestions from party leaders to take up the nationalism issue with a different perspective, which ultimately cost the Congress dear as the left alliance ran away with a landslide victory in the elections. “We had suggested the party leadership to move ahead on this issue [nationalism] with a different perspective. But it went unheard,” said leader Bhandari.

“As a result, the left alliance took advantage of the situation and the NC suffered loss.”

He also called on the NC leadership to follow the international democratic practice and step down taking morale responsibility for a poll defeat.

“For this, the leadership must leave the politics of interest and be involved in politics that suits the national interests,” he said.

Bhandari lost the federal parliamentary election to UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali in Gulmi-1.