After some lawmakers loyal to Paudel sought few days time for study and deliberation on the proposed statute amendment proposal, lawmakers loyal to Sher Bahadur Deuba vehemently disapproved the demand.Leaders loyal to party President Sher Bahadur Deuba argued that election for the parliamentary party leader should not be delayed under any pretext as the absence of main opposition leader in the parliament has hindered many national tasks including recommendations of chief justice.
Lawmakers Ram Chandra Ghimire, Mahesh Acharya, Ram Chandra Pokhrel among others had sought deferral of the parliamentary party election while speaking during the meeting held at parliament building in New Baneshwar. Ram Hari Khatiwada, Bal Krishna Khand, Prakash Sharan Mahat among other leaders from Deuba faction had opposed the proposal. "
"The debate concluded only after Paudel himself agreed to drive forward the parliamentary party leader election process urging party president not to move ahead unilaterally and allocate power to others in the par"y," said a leader attending the meeting.
The meeting at the end unanimously endorsed the proposal to amend parliamentary party statute, in accordance with the new constitution, tabled by NC chief whip Chinkaji Shrestha.
Party central working committee meeting approved the decision immediately after the parliamentary party meeting endorsing the amendment. NC has expended the size of parliamentary party executive committee to 36 by allocating 15 reservation quotas adopting proportional inclusive representation. Similarly, seven members each from seven provinces will be elected in the committee. Earlier the party had allocated five seats for development regions. Similarly, the party has replaced the term 'constituent assembly' by 'parliament' in its parliamentary party statute.
The election committee of the party led by Ramesh Rijal published nominations and voting programs for the parliamentary party leader and executive committee later on the same day, after the party amended the statute. Nomination for parliamentary party leader is scheduled for Tuesday and executive committee for Thursday.
Voting for the parliamentary party leader will start at 11 am on Wednesday and executive committee at 9 am on Friday.
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