Having won seats from the both erstwhile Constituent Assembly elections, Koirala, son of NC founder BP Koirala, belongs to the influential Koirala clan, which has so far dominated NC leadership. On the other hand, Thapa is no less a weak player in Nepali politics either.
Thapa won a seat in second CA elections from Kathmandu and was elected as NC Central Working Committee (CWC) member with highest votes in the 12th NC General Convention. He is also popularly known for his progressive opinion within the party and stunning speeches. He has also managed to garner support from the youth in particular.
However, Thapa's defeat in the elections of the convention has raised the most talked-about question whether NC fails to prioritize young generation in the decision-making level of its CWC. Thapa is considered an inspiring youth leader. Youth NC leaders said that it will be difficult to have influence of young generation in the party's policy-and-decision-making processes until youth leaders are provided with at least one position in the party's seven-member office bearers of the CWC.
Earlier, youth leaders like Gagan Thapa, Pradeep Poudel and Bishwa Prakash Sharma had launched a campaign to ensure at least one youth leader in the CWC office bearers so that they could make make an impact on party's decision-making process.
Unlike in the past, in the 12th NC General Convention, a large section of youth leaders were elected as CWC members. However, the party leadership did little to handle the party properly in the last six years. Late Sushil Koirala faced criticism for failing to perform well as the head of the party, while groupism and factionalism were rife. Likewise, elections to a majority of NC sister wings are yet to be held and party departments yet to get full shape.
Be it during various past people's movements including 2062-63 or time of any natural disasters, it is students and young political leaders and cadres, who come to the forefront to shoulder the responsibility and make it a success.
It may be noted that during the people's movement in 2006, youth participation helped the movement become successful and the monarchy was overthrown, establishing republic. Likewise, youth were at the forefront of the 1990 movement which had restored democracy in the country.
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However, the youth are used only as an instrument to get to power, said a NC student leader Naresh Rijal, who pursues his master's in English at Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus.
He said that the young generation is not being prioritized in the NC as opposed to CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) which has given space to youth leaders in the party's decision-making level. Yogesh Bhattarai is UML secretary while Ghanashyam Bhusal holds the position of deputy general secretary. Both Bhattarai and Bhusal represent the youth in their party.
However, some NC leaders blame youth leaders for failing to come together on any issue and that their involvement in groupism only to secure their position is a matter of concern. "It is not age that carries out reforms in any party, but idea and policy is necessary. Rather than blaming each other, the young generation should consider their weakness and come forward with a clear vision," said NC's student wing Nepal Students Union (NSU) leader UP Lamichhane.
Some, however, argue that the old generation is hesitant to prioritize the young generation in the party's decision-making level. According to reports, Thapa fielded his candidacy for general secretary in the convention from Krishna Prasad Sitaula camp after presidential candidates Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Paudel denied him any top position.
Political analyst Manamohan Bhattarai, who himself is a NC leader, has a different take on the matter. He dismisses the idea of failing to giving space to youth leaders. He said that a large section of youth leaders have become CWC members and the same number of youth participated in the convention as representatives. They could make their presence felt if they come up with a noble agenda, he said.
He, however, said that the leaders from the old generation have devoted their whole lives to politics and in shaping the party. So it is natural for them to claim a large portion of their share in the party. RSS
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