KATHMANDU, Sep 8: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has failed to appoint office bearers, central committee members and heads of departments in vacant posts of the party for nearly six months after the party's general convention.
NC senior leaders have said that appointments in the top posts are likely only after conclusion of the general convention of the party's two major sister wings -Nepal Tarun Dal and Mahila Sangh-in third week of September.
The general convention of the women's organization of the party, Mahila Sangh, has been scheduled to start from September 13 and the general convention of youth wing (Tarun Dal) is yet to be finalized due to dispute. Though the party leadership has said to conclude the general convention of the party's youth wing by September 21, the date of the general convention has still not been announced. A meeting between party establishment and senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel faction on Wednesday failed to finalize the date of the general convention following a row over district general convention. Conventions in 14 different districts of the NC's youth wing are yet to be concluded due to disputes.
Earlier, NC President Deuba had said he would appoint office bearers and central committee members of the party after Nepal Student Union's general convention.
Senior leaders of the party said that Deuba is unlikely to appoint office bearers in the party prior to the convention of the two major sister wings of the party as the decision would affect the result.
“Appointments in the party's top posts has been delayed as the party president is finding it tough to manage many aspirants. But to my knowledge, he will appoint members in all vacant posts after the general convention,” said NC leader Gopal Man Shrestha.
A vice president, general secretary, joint general secretary, 11 central committee members and heads of over three dozen departments are yet to be appointed in the NC.
Due to delay in appointing the vice president, Deuba did not appoint any acting president during his week-long Singapore visit last week.
Bimalendra Nidhi and Khum Bahadur Khadka are in the fray to become the party vice president. After Nidhi became Deputy Prime Minister leading the NC's ministers in the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government, Khadka has been pressing Deuba to appoint him the vice president without any delay.
“But Deuba doesn't want to appoint Khadkha in the party's top post as his appointment would drag the party into controversy,” said a party senior leader requesting anonymity. Despite being a senior and influential leader, Khadka has served jail term for corruption.
Similarly, leader Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Purna Bahadur Khadka are aspiring to become the party's general secretary. According to party insiders, Deuba is favoring Karki for the post.
“But some party senior leaders have suggested that Karki is not as active and dynamic as the post demands and suggested to appoint Khadka instead,” said another leader.
Man Bahadur Biswakarma and Farmullah Mansoor are lobbying to become joint general secretary of the party.
Though the party statute has stated that vacant posts in the party, including heads of departments, should be appointed within two months of party general convention, Deuba has failed to appoint members for six months after being elected as the party president in March.
Deuba unlikely to fill vacant party posts before Chhath
