NC’s 10th Conventions
A Look At Some Positive Aspects

By B. M. Dahal

THE 10th General Convention of the ruling Nepali Congress, held in the tourist hub of Pokhara City, has given mandate to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to lead the country’s largest and oldest democratic political party once again. President Koirala, who defeated former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with an overwhelming margin of 429 votes, has come up with a new team to drive the party. Koirala’s victory was expected, as he was successful to keep his promises by giving new momentum to the party organization.

Expectations

Since the new leadership with innovative ideas and commitment has come, the atmosphere of uncertainty and instability that existed in the past is expected to come to an end. Nepali Congress, which has remained in power much longer period of time compared to other political parties after the restoration of the multiparty democracy in the country in 1990, has a great responsibility to towards working for the welfare of the people and the country. It has to give serious thought to do away with the various problems emerged in the country besides consolidating the party organization at all levels.

Koirala, after being reelected to the top post of the President, said that he was happy as the party workers were more organized and disciplined during the General Conference. He also expressed his firm commitment to revitalize the party with the support from all. The views expressed by the former Prime Minister and party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba indicate that he would fully extend support to Koirala to move ahead with the guidelines given by the General Convention.

One of the important aspects of the Pokhara Convention is that it has made some important amendments in the party to make it more democratic and accountable. As per the new provisions, 50 per cent of the total CWC members have been elected through secret voting system by the representatives of the General Convention. The amendment is also expected to be helpful in strengthening the party’s organizational structure. The provision of electing 50 per cent CWC members has given opportunities to the efficient and capable persons, who can win the heart of the party workers, to sail the boat of the party. Moreover, the Central President has been given additional authority to suspend the party workers, who do not adhere to the party discipline.

Other amended provisions include the selection of at least one female representative from each constituency for the General Convention, two terms’ limitation to the Central President and District President of the party, participation of the Dalits in the party organization, development region level party organization, among others. This provision will compel the party workers to work as per the party’s policies and programmes.

There have been frustrations, fears and angers among the genuine workers of the Nepali Congress with the frequent intra-party wrangling and disputes among the leaders and the attacks on the NC supporters and well-wishers by the Maoist insurgents in different parts of the country. Keeping in view these things in mind, the new leadership must work actively to root out such problems. It has to create a conducive environment for the party workers at all levels to carry out their responsibilities in a more effective and efficient manner. The leadership has also to realize that the lack of trust and patience among the NC leaders and activists had paralyzed the party in the past. Learning lessons from the past mistakes, it has to be able to listen to the grievances and complaints of all the party workers. The leadership has also evaluated all the activities done in the past and now they should be ready to correct the mistakes. The party can fully accomplish its set mission only when all the party leaders and workers extend support to the leadership.

Breaching the party discipline has been another growing tendency among the leaders of the party. Due to some persons’ petty interest and selfish ambition, not only the party but also the entire nation has suffered setbacks. Some of the leaders were also accused of having been involved in the corrupt practices. Since such persons’ activities can tarnish the party’s image, all the illegal activities must be discouraged. All the responsible leaders and workers must think that groupism and split-mentality can be beneficial for none. Groupism, the chronic disease of the NC, must come to an end forever if the party is to get support and sympathy from the people.

Need

NC, which has already fought two times for the cause of democracy, must come up with strong commitment for the welfare of the nation. As a political party, which is known as the synonym of democracy, has also the responsibilities to safeguard and contribute to the institutional development of the hard-earned democracy. After the restoration of democracy in 1990, it is NC that has ruled the country for a longer time compared to other political parties. And, it has also been the only political party to win majority in the parliament so far. It is also the party that has to bring the fruit of democracy to the people. Despite the people’s support, the party has yet to work to meet their expectations. So, it has to move ahead with definite plans and programmes for the welfare of both the people and the party.

Wedlock Sans Deadlock

By BT

MADE in heaven— and mended or amended on the earth. The cherished wedlock will really bring luck given that the game of harmony is played sincerely by both sides with tolerance and compromise. Or the auspicious and blessed lock may face a deadlock or even unlock as marriage is all about agreeing despite differences and working out a rapprochement under all odds.

The union of the two opposites is an ideal condition for love, affection and cooperation but the same situation is not less a fertile ground for quarrel and hate. Blessed is the nuptial knot that does not snap under unexpected tug of war between the two and make the problems of life knottier to disentangle. Though the prince/princess of your dream is only an illusion as you discover upon marriage, a harmonious matrimonial tie can turn life more blessed if the couple learn to care and share. There are ample instances of your better half playing a key role to catapult you to the pinnacle of success.

On the contrary, if each side of the pair tries to practice hegemony ignoring the sentiments and needs of the spouse, you will be putting the cart before the horse. Matrimony is hinged on little things of daily life. The conjugal bliss is built on the foundation of both care and oversight— care about needs and oversight of the shortcomings of the other side.

Smooth affairs of life are spoilt when both the partners think to be the managers. Sharing of role and responsibilities and not the bickering over authority is the remedy. Perhaps to minimise the clashes over presidency, our forefathers ruled to make one of the partners submissive to the other. But such a doctrine of the traditional society is losing ground these days. With education and awareness, there has been a constant change in social values. In today’s globalised world, the tides of social change travel faster than ever before. This has brought a sea change in the mode of marriage and the role of couples. The social and gender barriers are being broken with new social and gender movements.

Marriage is seen as an auspicious and divine institution. It is socially accepted and religiously blessed. Thus it is the wish and obligation of the partners to establish, maintain and nurture the sweetness of the bond as envisioned by the society and the family. But as the compatibility has a human face, friction creeps in unexpectedly. This may mar the match and turn the lush union into a desert unless differences are patched on time. A happy married life is one where each partner dreads the disaster of disunion and guards against the differences going to brinkmanship.

Philosophers and sages renounce marriage for the attainment of some superior Bhisma-like cause but that is rather an exception than the rule. Bacon has also said that great goals were achieved by those who chose not to enter the ‘mess’ of marriage. That is a big sacrifice indeed, but the society is in for the idea of marriage. When you come of the age the society is always after you urging you to find a partner, to tie the wedlock and settle. This is because the nation and the society like to see its citizens settled and stable. One is often wild, wanderlust and unstable before the marriage. After getting tied into the nuptial knot, he/she becomes sober, settled and tamed under the burden of responsibilities and obligations. Life becomes routined and patterned until it grows tedious. Finally he discovers that he had missed an opportunity to escape those nonsense shackles of life. Some marry in haste and repent in leisure while others marry too late and regret for the lost days.