In competitive party politics, factionalism within political parties is not uncommon. However, the persistence of factional tensions within Nepal’s oldest party, Nepali Congress (NC), has reached a stage that should leave everyone concerned. The recent parallel events in Biratnagar by the establishment and rival factions of the NC not only show the deepening crisis within the NC but also how the unresolved issue of the hierarchy of senior leaders is weakening the party. It is unfortunate to see issues such as the order of precedence of senior leaders hindering party unity. The widening chasm seen within the NC not only risks the party’s ability to lead the country effectively but also weakens the party’s standing as the largest political party in the federal parliament. A divided party can neither safeguard democracy nor effectively govern the country.
The NC recently organized a Koshi provincial conference in Biratnagar as a part of its 100-day campaign. While almost all central office bearers, including the party president and general secretaries, reached Biratnagar to address the conference, the party’s senior leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala, who organized a similar event for his faction a few days ago, chose to skip the event. The absence of Dr. Koirala at the party’s official provincial-level event shows the deepening rift within the party. This particular decision of Dr. Koirala, who contested for the post of president with Deuba during the last general convention, to prioritize programs elsewhere underscores the need to work further to unite the party by addressing genuine grievances through established mechanisms. Although Dr. Koirala has maintained that he is not interested in the issue of hierarchy, leaders close to him argue that Dr. Koirala, as the nearest rival in the presidential race, should be placed in the hierarchy right after the president. Currently, Dr. Koirala is ranked 25th among NC top leaders.
National Dignity Bill in parliament sees changes to the hierarc...
The problem of the hierarchy of leaders within the NC does not seem to be limited to individual ego but a structural flaw in the NC’s statute, which does not provide any clear guideline on the hierarchy of senior leaders. This lack of clarity has given individual leaders the opportunity to assert their influence, creating confusion and tension within the party. In fact, the latest row over hierarchy is not new. A similar disagreement surfaced in the past. Two senior leaders, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat and Gopal Man Shrestha, engaged in a similar dispute over hierarchy after the 13th general convention of the party. NC leadership must recognize that such intra-party disputes will have far-reaching consequences and take appropriate policy decisions to address them before it is too late. As a champion of democracy in Nepal, the NC has a proud history. However, its repeated failure to resolve internal rifts risks eroding its glorious legacy. The party’s top leadership must take decisive actions to mend the internal conflict that plagues the party. Only a united NC can provide strong leadership to the country and help navigate the pressing challenges the country faces now.
