Kathmandu, Nepal, September 27, 2022: The intra-party feud of the ruling head Nepali Congress (NC) has escalated ahead of the federal and provincial assembly elections slated for coming November 20. The disgruntled faction of the party led by Central Working Committee (CWC) member Shekhar Koirala has announced an agitation against the establishment faction led by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba.
A meeting of the faction held on Monday announced the agitation against the leadership of the party for arbitrarily and basely distributing tickets for the November 20 elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly.
As the disgruntle faction announced the agitation against of the party leadership issuing threat of rebellion within the party, it would be catastrophic to the Nepali Congress to win the upcoming elections. It is suspected the disgruntle faction would join hands with the main opposition party CPN UML if 40 percent shares were not allocated to the faction.
The faction has accused the party leadership of marginalizing the genuine leaders and cadres even underestimating their contribution to the party while distributing tickets in the upcoming elections. The dissident faction had repeatedly been warning of rebellion if 40 percent share was not given to them in all position of party and government as well.
The meeting has announced to hold a sit-in protest program for one hour from 12 noon to 1:00 PM at the party central office in Sanepa on September 28. The meeting has also decided to unveil more protest programs if the proportional list of party’s candidates is not amended by September 30.
The dissident faction, which had been protesting the idea to forge electoral alliance with the ruling allies, particularly with the CPN Maoist Center, has now blamed the leadership for not sticking to a unanimous decision taken by the party but giving priority to the coalition and pleasing the Maoist Center and other parties.
However, party president and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has remained firm to continue the incumbent alliance even after the upcoming elections. Though the Koirala led dissident faction had been demanding for 100 seats out of the 165 seats in the federal first-past-the-post elections, the Deuba has tentatively agreed for 86 seats. The ruling allies have failed to distribute the seats due to the differences, particularly in the Nepal Congress.
