KATHMANDU, May 25: At a time when two major left parties have merged into a single party named Nepal Communist Party (NCP), to consolidate their strength, the main opposition party in the country, Nepali Congress (NC), is embroiled in a serious intra-party dispute.

The intra-party dispute which first surfaced in the party over the nomination of the party's office bearers was soon seen in the party's students' wing, Nepal Students Union (NSU). NSU leaders close to senior NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel and another leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula organized a parallel function against what they called the unilateral move to pick central committee members.

Paudel and Sitaula factions had objected to the unilateral move of the party president to pick Vice President, General Secretary and Joint Secretary. The Paudel faction had demanded President Deuba to give them at least one of the three office bearers' positions as a part of the power sharing deal.

But as Deuba did not give in to their demand, the dispute within the party widened further, with NSU factions challenging the establishment faction for what they described as the unilateral working style of the NSU President Nain Singh Mahar. The rival factions had called a parallel function at BP Museum in a bid to show their strength last month.

A fresh dispute within the party's women wing has surfaced after President Deuba nominated Manju Khand as the general secretary of the NWA. Khand is the spouse of NC Chief Whip Bal Krishna Khand, who is close to Deuba.

The Sitaula faction, which was miffed at the nomination of NWA Vice Chairperson and other members, has become further dissatisfied with the party leadership. “We are miffed at the way office bearers of the NWA have been nominated. This is an arbitrary move,” said NWA General Secretary Dhana Khatiwada.

The faction has vowed to object to the move of president Deuba. “Tolerating injustice is more serious than committing injustice. We will fight against the injustice,” said Khatiwada.

Interestingly, the Sitaula faction had lent decisive support to help Deuba make to the post of party president during the party's general convention.

Meanwhile, the rival faction of NSU decided to take to the streets on Friday, demanding internal democracy within the NC. According a student leader Manoj Gaire, they will organize a march beginning from Bishwa Bhasha Campus, Exhibition Road, and passing through the city areas.

Students will carry placards and banners demanding internal democracy within NC. Among other things, they will also protest 'communist totalitarianism' and the move of the government to grant amnesty to murder-convict Maoist leader Bal Krishna Dhungel.

 
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