KATHMANDU, Mar 1: President of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) Sher Bahadur Deuba has sought the support of party leader Shekhar Koirala to display the party’s united front in managing the country's latest political situation.
At a time when the NC, a coalition partner of the CPN-UML, is getting entangled in intra-party dispute and power-sharing mess while pushing forward issues including constitutional amendment, party president Deuba has sought the support of Koirala, the closest rival for the party presidency, at the party's 14th general convention.
Koirala is said to be dissatisfied with the government's recent works. Deuba called Koirala and other leaders to his residence for discussions as they have been protesting against issues including ordinances brought by the government on the eve of the federal parliament session. Deuba had not called Koirala to meetings of party office bearers and former office bearers in the past. However, sources close to Deuba claim that he has started calling Koirala to the meeting, emphasizing the need to handle issues within the government, parliament as well as the party.
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Koirala, who is preparing to become a candidate for the post of the party’s president in the 15th general convention, has been very active in programs outside the valley. Keeping that in mind, sources claim that Deuba called a meeting of office bearers and former office bearers on Friday only after ensuring that the timing of the meeting would be suitable for Koirala to attend the meeting. Deuba had called a meeting of office bearers and former office bearers at his residence at 4 pm on Friday.
The meeting discussed the latest political situation including the election law for the Free Students' Union and the law related to political parties that is in a vacuum due to the ordinances. Shyam Kumar Ghimire, the chief whip of NC’s parliamentary party, told Republica that the meeting could not reach a conclusion on the issues. He added that the party leaders have decided to reach the Prime Minister's Office for discussions on the six ordinances issued on the eve of the federal parliament meeting.
“Both the Home Ministry and Law Ministry are doing the necessary homework on the bill related to the Election Act. Some sections of the bill related to parties are slated to be dismissed,” he said, “The meeting discussed expediting the bill.”
The ordinance brought by the government is not likely to be passed by the National Assembly. Ruling coalition partner Janata Samajwadi Party led by Upendra Yadav has vocally opposed the land ordinance which has invited problems in the ruling coalition. There is a suspicion that the KP Oli-led government will be in crisis over the ordinances. There is also a growing opinion within the ruling NC that an alternative to the Oli-led government should be explored.
The meeting discussed the ongoing dispute between the local Yakthung indigenous group and the operators of the cable car being built in Pathibhara, Taplejung. Stating that a solution to the problem should be found through talks and dialogue, Ghimire said, “There is no agreement in principle with those who support the government and the group who has said no to the construction on stopping the construction work. However, the NC is ready to talk and solve the problems seen there.”
Locals are protesting demanding a halt to the construction of the cable car in Pathibhara.
