Miscellaneous
Delays hit Congress’ provincial activities
The Nepali Congress (NC)’s delay in finalising procedures and statutes has affected provincial activities of the party including selection of the Parliamentary Party (PP) leader in the provincial assembly.The Nepali Congress (NC)’s delay in finalising procedures and statutes has affected provincial activities of the party including selection of the Parliamentary Party (PP) leader in the provincial assembly.
The party has already instructed its leaders to hold PP meetings immediately and prepare the strategy for the National Assembly (NA) elections and other matters.
Provincial leaders say there are no procedures and statutes to guide their work and decisions. No homework was done in selecting PP leaders of the party in the seven provinces.
“We are holding discussions on all issues related to the provinces including selecting the PP leader,” said NC leader Prakash Sharan Mahat. According to him, the party will soon finalise all the procedures and guidance related to the provinces. Some party leaders have already drawn the attention of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to resolve these issues.
There is apathy for picking the PP leader as the party has no strength to form provincial government in any of the provinces. The left alliance is going to form all the provincial governments except in Province 2 where the Madhesi alliance has a majority in the Provincial Assembly.
However, the party will have to pick the PP leader as he serves as the main opposition leader in the province. Confusion prevails in provinces in the absence of clear instructions. The party has instructed Central Working Committee (CWC) members to travel to their respective provinces and facilitate all work.
Though Nepal has already embraced the federal structure, the NC is yet to reshape its party organisation. The party is yet to pick its provincial head. This has caused problems in conducting the activities, say some leaders.
A meeting of the Mahasamiti is vital to transform NC’s structure. Since it could take another couple of months to call the Mahasamiti meeting, the NC may have to take temporary measures. The CWC meeting that takes place after the NA elections is likely to fix the date of the Mahasamiti meet. For now, the party will prepare a temporary statute to facilitate the tasks at provinces.
NC leader Mahat said the party hopes to win two seats on the Upper House from each province. The NC has forged an alliance with the Bibeksheel Sajha Party and the Naya Shakti Nepal in the NA elections.
“Except in Province 6, we are hopeful of winning two seats in each province,” said Mahat. In Province 2, the NC has already secured two seats in the Upper House as two of its candidates have been elected unopposed.