FACTIONAL POLITICS

The Kathmandu Post

17 January 2016

FACTIONAL POLITICS

None of the major political parties of Nepal are free from factional, self-centred and egoistic politics. Nepali Congress (NC), which is one of the largest and oldest democratic parties, has not even remained untouched from this bad practice (“Factional dispute in NC over party charter revision” 13 January, Page 3). Both Koirala and Deuba factions are busy in luring party cadres towards their camps at such a time when the party’s general convention is inching closure. Sources from the party claim that the party is considering increasing the number of office bearers like the CPN-UML.

However, the factional politics within the party has been the problem for this process. There are strong suggestions coming from the local and districts level to increase the number of office bearers for making the party more inclusive as per Nepal’s new constitution which acknowledges many ethnic groups and communities. In this context, UCPN (Maoist) has outnumbered the other parties making its party structure more inclusive. UML has been the more conservative and non-inclusive party considering its party structure.

NC has to play more constructive role in the days to come being it one of the major forces to draft the new constitution. The first and foremost job for it is to push and exert positive pressure on the ruling parties to resolve the ongoing political and constitutional disputes with Madhes based parties soon and resume the smooth supply of fuel and other essential commodities at the earliest possible. It has to keep its eyes wide open in ensuring that the government machineries are properly carrying out rehabilitation and reconstruction works in the quake affected areas. It is hoped that the NC will stand united after its general convention and comes forward as one single NC to play more constructive and proactive opposition role in the days to come.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj