NC statute debate hots up at jamboree

KANTIPUR REPORT

Although the party's Central Committee (CC) was supposed to finalise the statute, some Mahasamiti members were unhappy over the CC's reluctance to finalise it.

KATHMANDU, NOV 03 - The ongoing Mahasamiti meeting of Nepali Congress witnessed heated debate on the party's proposed statute prepared by Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

Sitaula tabled the party's statute amendment proposal on the second day of the ongoing Mahasamiti meeting on Monday. He submitted the statute amendment proposal after incorporating the different opinions that surfaced at the recently concluded central working committee.

The process of amendment will be completed after incorporating the jamboree's ideas on various issues like role of party president, institutionalization of the party, collective leadership, role and power for the party president, the general assembly and others.

Although the party's Central Committee (CC) was supposed to finalise the statute, some Mahasamiti members were unhappy over the CC's reluctance to finalise the statute. NC president Girija Prasad Koirala favoura a strong presidential system and is supported by vice chair Sushil Koirala and his close aides.

"Majority of the members hold the view that the CC and party office bearers should come through elections," NC General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi said. After Sitaula tabled the proposed statute at the meeting, NC lawmaker Narahari Acharya demanded election of 80 percent CC members and party office bearers. Some members supported Acharya's view at the close door session. Majority of 34 members who expressed their views were in favor of election of CC members and party office bearers, said a member. This is happening because NC needs collective leadership to fill the leadership vacuum in the post-Koirala period, not because of the role Koirala played.

"But, other concerns also emerged during the close door session," Nidhi said.

Expressing concern over the party leadership's incompetence, NC leader Chakra Prasad Bastola said the meeting had failed to bring out detailed documents of the party's stancece political, economic, international and contemporary issues. If the Mahasamiti meeting endorses the proposal of direct elections for party office bearers and 80 percent CC members, it would be a giant leap in the party's history, said Bastola.

The new provision of the statute also ensures that every election constituency will get 11 representatives at the party's general assembly. The number of seats was upgraded from 7 seats. Four other proposals were tabled. Nidhi's proposal was on party organisation; Ram Chandra Poudel presented the political report; Bastola presented on the fundamental issues of the constitution and Gopal Man Shrestha tabled a proposal on on state restructuring.