Protests by the agitating Madhesi parties, their threats to disrupt the event, differences among NC cadres on Madhes issues, disputes over active membership and factional election strategies within the NC are the reasons that have muddled the preparatory works for the upcoming convention in Tarai district, say the local leaders of the party.
The village and municipal-level conventions of the party are scheduled for Friday across the country. Similarly, the area and the district conventions are slated for the first week of February.
According to the local NC leaders, opening the party office in Mahottari looks difficult. Due to the ongoing protests in Madhes, NC cadres have not been able to operate from the party office based in Jaleshwar, the district headquarters. Local party offices in villages and municipalities also remain padlocked.
“Given the tense atmosphere, it would be difficult for central leaders of the NC to come to the district and villages,” one of NC district leaders, Lavaraja Singh, said.
Although the party's convention is to begin from Friday at the village level, members of the NC central committee were reluctant to confirm whether the assembly would take place at all, he informed.
As per the district secretary of the NC, Shyamacharan Verma, NC leaders and cadres lack any sort of enthusiasm in the district. Similar is the case in Siraha, according to local leaders. They do not seem eager due to current problems in Tarai.
The NC is the largest party in Dhanusha as it had won highest seats in the last Constituent Assembly elections. Yet, NC leaders have not been able to hold any meeting in the district with its general convention approaching closer.
In Dhanusha, United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) cadres have already warned the NC leaders of disrupting their party activities. “We will continue to protest against any political leader who signed the constitution that discriminates against Madhesis,” UDMF Dhanusha district coordinator Sanjay Sigh said.
However, the NC leaders in Saptari district are involved in low key publicity for the convention. NC Saptari President Dinesh Kumar Yadav told Republica that internal preparations for the convention have already come to the final stage.
Meanwhile, over two dozen leaders and lawmakers of the NC representing Madhesi districts, issuing a statement on Tuesday, sought support from the agitating parties for holding the local level conventions of the party.
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