He, however, has assured Paudel to convene the party's central committee and parliamentary party meeting prior to the election.Deuba telephoned Paudel on Tuesday to inform about his intention after Paudel called him earlier to consider withholding the parliamentary party leader election until after the amendment of party statute in accordance with the new constitution.
"President Deuba assured Paudel over telephone that he would summon the party's central working committee and parliament party meeting prior to the election as picking a parliamentary party leader has become urgent," said NC leader Prakash Saran Mahat.
According to Mahat, party meetings are not likely before Saturday as many party lawmakers and leaders would be busy in the election of Nepal Bar Association, an umbrella organization of advocates.
He further said that Deuba was firm in his stance of holding the election on the scheduled date stating that the Constitutional Council has not been able to take any decision in absence of the leader of the main opposition in the parliament.
The leader of the main opposition sits on the Constitutional Council as a member. The post of NC parliamentary party leader has been vacant since the demise of leader Sushil Koirala in February.
The election committee of the party has decided to hold the election to pick its parliamentary party leader on April 6.
Earlier, a meeting of the leaders loyal to Paudel on Monday had decided to ask Deuba either to postpone the parliamentary party election or hold it only after amending the party statute.
Although the new constitution has replaced the country's administrative demarcations from five development regions with seven provinces, the NC has yet to change its statute to reflect the changed context. Paudel faction has demanded amendment on the statute without any delay and asked Dauba to abide by one leader, one position policy, which he himself used to stress in the past.
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