Senior NC leaders have taken exception to the proposal and said it will be greeted with “deep resentment” by party rank and file.
Koirala made the proposal at a meeting attended by senior NC and UML leaders including Prime Minister Madav Kumar Nepal, at his residence at Maharajgunj this evening.
The meeting that lasted for over 45 minutes was also attended by UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, party General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel and NC leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba, Sushil Koirala, Ram Chandra Poudel, Bimalendra Narayan Nidhi, Prakash Sharan Mahat and Sujata Koirala.
Koirala even requested Prime Minster Nepal to induct his daughter in the cabinet immediately and make it public. However, Vice President of NC Ram Chandra Poudel quickly intervened and said the party would discuss the issue and send in all the names together. “No other NC leader made any comment,” said Poudel.
Party President Koirala had held a meeting with senior NC leaders in the afternoon but he did not reveal his intention to send the party into the government under the leadership of his daughter. During the meeting NC Acting President Sushil Koirala had suggested that the party should join the government under the leadership of a senior NC leader.
Koirala had Deuba’s consent
A senior party leader claimed that party President Koirala made the proposal after he held a secret discussion with senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and Sujata Koirala. The senior leader accused Deuba of playing a dubious role over the issue. “I think Deuba consented to Koirala’s proposal in the hope that he would get his (Koirala’s) backing to become the next NC president.” The senior leader said Deuba deflected the issue when Poudel told the UML leaders that the party would make an official decision and send all the names later on.
Koirala’s decision seems to have divided even his loyal supporters and family members. “There will be a harsh reaction in the party against the proposal. Just wait till tomorrow, even his family members will speak against it,” said another NC leader, who has so far been close to the party president.
Sujata supported Katawal’s sacking
Though Sujata has a little support in the NC rank and file, one of the reasons why the resentment against her leading the party in the government seems so deep has to do with her stance during the recent army-government row.
Sujata publicly supported the sacking of army chief Rookmangud Katawal by the previous government led by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Former PM Dahal resigned when President Dr Ram Baran Yadav blocked the Dahal government’s decision to sack the army chief. “The earlier government collapsed because of the army chief’s sacking. How can an NC leader who supported the sacking lead the party in the new government,” questioned one NC leader, adding, “She should have instead faced disciplinary action for her stance that was against party policy.” He also claimed that this decision would weaken the NC and destabilize the government.
UML also unhappy
UML leaders have said they are worried about the NC president’s proposal that his daughter should lead the party in the cabinet.
“This is a challenging time and it demands a strong government. But if Sujata leads the NC in the government not many NC senior leaders may join it, which will only weaken the stature of the government,” said the UML leader.
He even revealed that many NC leaders have sent a message to the prime minister to request Koirala to rethink his proposal. None of the UML leaders made any comment at today’s meeting when Koirala made his proposal.
koshraj@myrepublica.com
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