Deuba announced his resignation a day after party President Sushil Koirala turned down the proposal of a taskforce formed to end the ongoing feud in the party over the dissolution of Nepal Tarun Dal, Nepal Mahila Sangh, Adibasi-Janajati Sangh and Prajatantra Senani Sangh.[break]
“It is the main responsibility of the party to draft the new constitution and conclude the peace process. But it is unfortunate that the party is embroiled in unnecessary controversies. In this situation, I do not have any alternative other than to resign from the central committee to strengthen unity in the party,” Deuba said in his resignation letter addressing party President Sushil Koirala.
Deuba also accused Koirala of betraying him by breaching the understanding reached during the party unification in September 2007 and other agreements relating to party unification.
Deuba put in his papers as he was under moral pressure to discontinue his supporters´ ongoing fast-unto-death in view of the Dashain festival despite cold response from Koirala over his demands. Deuba supporters have been demanding that the dissolved sister organizations be allowed to hold their conventions. They withdrew their protests following a call from Deuba after his resignation.
A leader close to Deuba told Republica that Deuba reached the decision as he could not ask the supporters to withdraw the protests before their demands were met.
“He told us that he was under moral pressure after Koirala turned down the taskforce´s proposal. So he decided to resign from the central committee,” said Bal Krishna Khand, a leader close to Deuba.
Deuba had withheld his decision until Wednesday evening though he decided to quit in the morning, hoping that a compromise would be worked out. He had even delayed his press conference by two-and-a-half hours expecting Koirala´s nod on the proposal of the taskforce.
The six-member taskforce had proposed formation of a convention preparation committee comprising officials from the dissolved sister organizations and former presidents of youth wings.
NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC said he had asked Koirala to urge Deuba not to hold the press conference saying there is no alternative to reconciliation but the party president did not pay heed to his advice.
NC leader Purna Bahadur Khadka said the party establishment had promised to hold talks in the afternoon but they were never approached.
Leaders said the resignation has further polarized the party and urged the party leaders to exercise restraint.
“The leaders should begin fresh talks and not be carried away by emotion,” said Gagan Thapa, who has been playing the role of a go-between.
But Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel told Republica that the establishment faction would make Deuba withdraw his resignation. “We will resolve the problem through dialogues as it is an internal matter of the party,” said Paudel.
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