According to his close aides, Poudel is not happy with the decision as party president Sushil Koirala did not consult him before making the announcement.[break]
The “one person, one post” policy will bar Poudel from becoming the party´s vice president--a post he has been coveting since the party´s general convention held in November.
Talking to Republica over phone, Poudel confirmed that Koirala did not hold any discussion with him on the issue before taking the decision. “I do not want to comment on the issue now,” he said.
In a news interview with Republica´s sister publication Nagarik on Tuesday, Koirala had said that he had long wanted to implement the “one person, one post” policy in the party. “I will implement the policy during my tenure,” he had said.
Asked if there was no possibility of appointing Poudel as the party´s vice-president, Koirala had said, “All colleagues should be given responsibilities. I have a policy not to give dual and heavy responsibilities to anyone in the party.”
As per the party statute, an elected NC president nominates vice-president, one of the two general secretaries and joint general secretary from among the elected central working committee members in the party´s office bearers´ body. Koirala has announced to start implementing the policy by nominating central committee members for the posts.
While Poudel, Sujata Koirala and Kul Bahadur Gurung are aspirants for the post of the party´s vice president, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Krishna Sitaula, Arjun Narasingh KC are vying for the post of general secretary.
Other aspirants seem to be happy with the introduction of the new provision. Addressing a gathering of party cadres at his residence Wednesday morning, Dr Mahat said the policy should have been implemented long before. “I had resigned from one of two posts I held in the past,” he said.
Some party leaders have expressed apprehensions that the policy could be Koirala´s ploy to secure vice presidential berth to Sujata Koirala. Koirala had reportedly assured Sujata of vice presidential berth in return for withdrawal of her decision to contest for the post of general secretary during the party´s general convention.
Talking to mediapersons at function recently, Sujata disclosed that she was promised vice presidential berth by the party president. “Political leaders do not retract their words. I am sure that the party president will also abide by his words,” she said. “Ram Chandra Ji also said that he will respect any decision taken by the party president.”
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