Let There Be Dynamism In NC

The campaign for bringing about transformation within the Nepali Congress (NC) appears to be gathering steam gradually. The need for reforming the nation’s oldest democratic party has widely been felt by its leaders and cadres. The party is often criticised for deviating from its guiding principles and core values like democratic socialism. The mass-based party has now become so messy that its leaders as well as activists rarely adhere to its statute. The growing nepotism and cronycism in the party is one of the key factors behind its weakening position. Looking at the mess within NC, leaders of different political parties, including CPN-UML, often mock the party in public. It is NC that has remained in power for the longest time following the restoration of democracy in 1990. But the party has failed to deliver on its promises. Several NC leaders have been implicated in corruption cases. However, the performance of other political parties has also not been so satisfactory. Rising corrupt practices within CPN-UML and other parties have eroded their image, too. 

Many NC supporters and well-wishers have been piling pressure on their leadership to transform the party into a more energetic and responsible force. Numerous NC youth leaders, including its two general secretaries— Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma -- have intensified their endevours to give a new lease of life to the party after their party suffered a humiliating defeat in the by-election held in Chitwan-2 and Tanahun-1 on April 23. Despite having an electoral alliance with other ruling coalition partners like the CPN-Maoist Centre, Janata Samajbadi Party and CPN-Unified Socialist, NC lost in the by-poll to the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). 

Weakening condition

NC had given its ticket to Govind Bhattarai, a central committee member, in Tanahun-1 while the party’s Chitwan district president Jit Narayan Shrestha had fielded his candidacy in Chitwan-2. But these dedicated and popular leaders lost election to RSP candidates Dr. Swarnim Wagle and Ravi Lamichhane with wide margins. Renowned economist Dr. Wagle had left NC to join RSP only a few days before the by-poll. Wagle is said to have been dissatisfied with the NC leadership. Anyway, the NC’s weakening condition prompted some of its second-rung leaders to initiate the drive for its transformation. So, the loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise if its leaders become successful in their mission.  

The issue of changing NC’s modus operandi had been raised extensively during its 14th general convention held in December 2021 and the election for the parliamentary party leader about seven months back as well. The idea of transferring the leadership to the young generation had also come to the fore. The party’s general convention representatives utilised their discretion by electing Thapa and Sharma as general secretaries with a significant number of votes. 

As promised during the federal and provincial elections held in November 2022, youth leader Thapa fielded his candidacy for the parliamentary party leader, challenging NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba. NC has emerged as the largest force winning 89 seats in the House of Representatives. Several leaders and supporters say that it would have won more seats in both federal and provincial legislatures if the party leadership had been fair and impartial in selecting candidates.

Most existing NC leaders belonging to the old generation are not found be interested so much in changing their working style. Instead, they seem to be creating their own factions and bargain with the leadership to secure positions and power for them and their near and dear ones. NC president Deuba and his close aides are also adept at making power plays rather than consolidating the party organization and promoting the welfare of the nation and the people. With the emergence of RSP, Janmat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party as new forces, it has become more challenging for the established parties such as NC, UML and CPN-Maoist Centre. RSP and Janmat Party have already begun expanding their organisations targeting the next federal and provincial elections. 

To help strengthen NC, a meeting of its district presidents was recently held in Kathmandu. As many as 41 district presidents attended the gathering in-person while the others took part in it virtually. The meeting concluded with a 14-point commitment to strengthening the party by eliminating factionalism from it. The two-day meeting was organised as per the party’s statute. However, it would not have been possible without the initiative of NC general secretaries Thapa and Sharma. That Deuba did not turn up at the gathering is a clear indication that it was not in his interest. According to the party, the participants were unanimous in making the party functional. The meeting mainly focused on selecting active members, holding convention of local executive committees and managing the party in a more effective manner. 

Concerns

Most participants expressed their concerns about ineffective budget allocations, traditional working style of the provincial and federal governments and increasing groupism in the party.  They even accused the federal and provincial ministers of functioning in one-sided manner and setting aside budgets without having any coordination with the grassroots party committees. They also questioned the party leadership’s decision-making process. 

Some of the district presidents said that the failure on the part of the NC leadership to suspend Bal Krishna Khand from his responsibility as the party’s central working committee member was taking its toll on the entire party. A case has already been filed at the Kathmandu district court against Khand on charge of his involvement in the notorious fake Bhutanese refugee scam. The district-level leaders said they did not have any issue to take to the people as the party leadership has not taken action against even those party leaders who have been charged with corruption.  Earlier, similar meetings of the party’s provincial and local-level committees had been organised to discuss how to make the party more dynamic and unified. If the ongoing drive for reforms continues, it may prove to be a game changer for the party and the nation in the near future. 

(The author is a deputy executive editor of this daily.)