Altogether 12 department chiefs out 13 and four zonal coordinators, who are in the Deuba-led camp, tendered their resignation Wednesday at the party central office at Sanepa, Lalitpur. [break]
Parliamentary Department chief Purna Bahadur Khadka, Agriculture and Cooperatives Department chief Balkrishna Khand, Ex-servicemen´s Department chief Ramesh Rijal, Natural Resource Department chief Prakash Sharan Mahat, Literature, Culture and Arts Department chief Manmohan Bhattarai and Tourism Department chief Kishor Singh Rathor have resigned from their respective posts just three weeks after the formation of the departments.
Similarly, Science and Technology Department chief Sita Gurung, Research and Archives Department chief Mahalaxmi Upadhyay Dina, Monitoring and Evaluation Department chief Ambika Basnet, Conflict Management Department chief Ishwori Neupane, Irrigation and Infrastructure Department chief Minakshi Jha and Department for Disabled chief Sujata Pariyar have also tendered their resignation.
According to the disgruntled NC leaders, Aadibasi Janajati Department chief Bhisma Raj Aangdangbe could not tender his resignation as he is currently out of the Valley.
Likewise, Mechi zonal coordinator Mahendra Yadav, Lumbini zonal coordinator Surendra Pandey, Karnali zonal coordinator Min Biswokarma and Mahakali zonal coordinator Jiwan Bahadur Shahi have also resigned from their respective posts.
Earlier, Dhawalagiri zonal coordinator NP Saud and Seti zonal coordinator Gyanendra Bahadur Karki had also resigned.
NC President Koirala on July 28 formed 42 various departments and appointed their leaders. Koirala had picked the chiefs of 13 departments out of the total of 42 departments and six of the 14 zonal coordinators, from the Deuba-led faction.
Khadka, who resigned as Parliamentary Department chief, said they have resigned as the formation of the departments and the appointment of their leaders ran counter to the party´s statute and the culture of consensus within the party.
"We tendered our resignation for the sake of self-respect, justice and the security of party leaders and cadres," Khadka told Republica, adding, "This is an intra-party struggle."
In their resignation letter, the disgruntled NC leaders have stated that they could not agree with the formation of the departments and appointment of their leaders as these took place two years after the party´s 12th general convention rather than just two months later, as should have been the case.
Further explaining the reasons behind their move, the leaders have claimed that the division of responsibilities among the zonal coordinators was against the objective of the party´s general convention and the spirit of the party statute.
"Our party leadership often makes speeches about how the country should move ahead through consensus and cooperation among the political parties but when it comes to intra-party affairs there was not even any discussion among the other leaders of the party," Khadka said.
The disgruntled leaders have maintained that the party can move forward in strength only by adhering to the statute and the spirit of mutual unity and reconciliation.
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