KATHMANDU, Jan 9: Former General Secretary of Nepali Congress (NC) Krishna Prasad Sitaula has filed nominations for National Assembly member from Koshi Province. Pradip Sunuwar proposed his nomination and Himal Karki seconded the proposal.

Party leaders claim that Sitaula, who was defeated by Rajendra Lingden, chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), in the House of Representatives elections held in November 2079, will not only become a member of the National Assembly but also its chairman. He is one of the leaders who played an important role in bringing the then Maoists rebels from 10 years of violent movement to the peace process.

After losing the House of Representatives election, Sitaula wanted to be a candidate in the presidential election last February. Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also the prime minister, was positive about backing Sitaula’s presidential bid. But NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba stood in favor of leader Ram Chandra Paudel. By the time of the party's 14th convention, Paudel was almost sidelined from politics.

Deuba took the stand of making his long-time competitor Paudel as the country’s president and eventually was elected as the head of the state.

While backing Paudel, PM Dahal along with NC President Deuba had assured to nominate Sitaula in the National Assembly. Sources claim that the leaders also promised to make Sitaula the chairman of the National Assembly.

Not only will Sitaula be elected as a member of the National Assembly backed by the coalition parties, he will also become the chairman if the top leaders of the coalition stay honest to their previous agreement.

Sitaula’s decision to join the National Assembly has effectively ended his three-decade old political rivalry with RPP Chairman Lingden.

These two leaders of Jhapa standing against each other are like two banks of the same river – one in favor of the republic and the other a staunch supporter of monarchy. These two leaders have come face to face in elections four times. They contested the elections in 1999, 2013, 2017 and 2019.

Sitaula won two of those elections and lost to Lingden in Jhapa-3 in the last two elections.

The rivalry of the two leaders started much earlier during their student days.

During the anti-panchayat movement, student leader Ram Thapa was killed while burning an effigy at Mechi Campus on March 25, 1989 and Mohan Maharjan was seriously injured in an attack led by Rajendra Lingden-led pro-panchayat student organization Rastrabadi Swatantra Bidyarthi Mandal. 

Sitaula had reportedly led the movement and Lingden led its suppression.

During the 1980 referendum, when Sitaula tried to hold a general assembly in favor of multi-party, Lingden's father Manprasad blocked it. Those privy to the matter say that Sitaula’s animosity with Lingden has continued ever since then.

But Sitaula’s decision to join the National Assembly has removed Lingden’s strong competitor and made it easier for the RPP chairman to carry out his political agenda in Jhapa-3. The election rivalry between them has also ended. 

Born in Tehrathum in 1946, Sitaula has been involved in politics since 1977. Krishna Prasad Sitaula, son of Ranga Prasad Sitaula, has completed his B.A. and B.L degrees. Sitaula took up teaching and advocacy professions for some time before joining the Nepali Congress.

Sitaula, who was active in Jhapa during the political change of 1990, found a place in central politics with the midterm elections of 1995.

Due to his close ties with Girija Prasad Koirala, Sitaula started playing an active role in mediation and talks after the then King Gyanendra Shah’s regressive step on October 4, 2002.

Sitaula earned the trust of the then NC President Girija Prasad Koirala as a leader who spoke less but played a coordinating role for talks and dialogues on behalf of the party. He is one of the leaders who worked on behalf of NC in talks and discussions to bring the Maoists to the peace process.

Always active in talks and discussions after the 2006 people’s movement, Sitaula has held the position of Deputy Prime Minister of the government. Sitaula, who took over the responsibility of NC general secretary, has established his own group within the party by contesting for the chairmanship in the 13th General Convention. Sitaula stood in favor of Deuba in the 14th General Convention.

Analysts anticipate his group will fade away once he takes up the role of the National Assembly chairman after being nominated its member first.

Some have analyzed that Sitaula, who is in the twilight of his active political career, has opted for a new role as the chairman of the NA to consolidate power for the welfare of his confidants.

Controversy in NC

Controversy has erupted within the Nepali Congress once again with the selection of candidates for the National Assembly elections. At a time when factional disputes have intensified within the party, the two general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma have expressed differing views. Central members Arjun Narsingh KC, Bal Bahadur KC have also disagreed on the selection of candidates from Madhesh Province.

Leaders, including the aspiring member of the National Assembly, Gopal Man Shrestha, have expressed dissatisfaction with the selection of candidates. According to the agreement with the ruling coalition parties, the name of former General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula was finalized on Sunday afternoon, but the leaders stayed till late night to finalize the names of the remaining nine candidates. After vice chairman Dhanraj Gurung was set to become a direct candidate from Syangja, NC kept the former DPM Shrestha for proportional representation.

In the midnight meeting of the executive committee, NC nominated Krishna Prasad Sitaula in Koshi Province, Anand Prasad Dhungana in Madhesh Province, Jit Jung Basnet in Bagmati Province, Bishnu Devi Pudasaini, Kiran Babu Shrestha in Gandaki Province, Padam Bahadur Pariyar, Bishnukumari Sapkota in Lumbini Province, Krishna Bahadur Rokaya in Karnali Province and Bal Dev Bohara and Narayan Dutt Bhatt in Sudurpaschim Province.

Arjun Narsingh KC and Bal Bahadur KC have expressed differing views about Dhungana being nominated instead of a leader of Madhesi origin from Madhesh Province.

General secretaries Thapa and Sharma disagreed with the president’s working style. Thapa stated that the constitution envisages representation of people from different castes, classes and regions in the National Assembly as well as experts who have made specific contributions in various fields at the national level.

Leaders expressed their dissatisfaction in the central committee meeting stating that candidates were not selected according to the criteria of giving preference to qualification and popular candidates were deprived of opportunities due to various reasons.

 
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