By Our Reporter
Two years after holding its 14th general convention, the Nepali Congress is holding its Maha Samiti meeting in Kathmandu from January 1-4 next year. However, the meeting is likely to be deferred again as some leaders are demanding that the issue of Hindu state should be an agenda of the Maha Samiti meeting.
NC leader and Member of the House of Representatives Shankar Bhandari said that his team would put the agenda of the Hindu state if the two party general secretaries did not include it in their proposal.
“I already requested party President Deuba to discuss the agenda. This agenda is getting wider space in the party now. So, if the agenda is not formally brought in the Maha Samiti meeting, we will bring it through the floor and create an environment to endorse it,” Bhandari was quoted by The Rising Nepal, the official English Daily, a few days ago.
Former general secretary Dr. Shasanka Koirala has also raised the issue of Hindu state recently.
According to the party statute, the Maha Samiti meeting needs to be convened at least once a year. But NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba, who has been expert in violating the party statue, hasdnot called the meeting of Maha Samiti for two years.
Nepali Congress statute, 2017 BS clearly states that the party body was created for policy discussions.
The 14th general convention of the NC on December 13-15, 2021 had concluded without discussing its policies and programmes stating that the Maha Samiti would be called immediately to discuss them. But it was not called for two years after the 14th convention.
Still, there are speculations about whether the party will hold it on the stipulated date, as the party has already deferred it twice this year. Moreover, the issue of Hindu state which the NC leaders are raising at a time when the pro-royalists have been staging demonstrations across the country has increased the uncertainty about the fate of the proposed Maha Samiti meeting.
Again, the NC has been marred by internal dispute, due mainly to party president Deuba’s working style. As he always focuses on power-centric activities and took decisions accordingly by ignoring the voices of the rival leaders. As Deuba enjoys a comfortable majority in the central committee and even in the parliamentary party, he could endorse any decision no matter whether they are against the statute or public sentiments. And this has resulted in the erosion of its base, especially among youth.
As such, he could put off the proposed Maha Samiti meeting citing any reason, because he is sure to be criticised in the meeting by the leaders who are not close to him and are deprived of opportunities in the party.
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