EC: Koirala-led NC legitimate
Mixed reactions on long awaited decision

By Ritu Raj Subedi

KATHMANDU, Sept 17: The Election Commission (EC) has recognised the Nepali Congress (NC) led by Girija Prasad Koirala as the legitimate NC party and has awarded it the party's election symbol - the tree.

Giving a two-point verdict in one of the most controversial intra-party tussles Tuesday afternoon, the EC has put to rest speculations, but only for the time being.

"As the Nepali Congress presided by Koirala is registered with the EC for the general election, the Election Commission has decided to give continuity (to the registration) by recognising the Nepali Congress headed by him," said the EC's secretary Shambhu Prasad Khanal, reading out the decision.

The EC called the Nepali Congress headed by Sher Bahadur Deuba a separate group of the NC. The EC said it would register the group as a separate political party if it comes with a separate name and a separate election symbol within the next seven days.

"It is only an interim decision, and the Commission will give its final decision at a latter date," EC spokesman Tej Muni Bajracharya told The Rising Nepal. But he did not specify when.

The tussle between the two factions began after the central working committee of the NC expelled Prime Minister Deuba from the party in May for 'disobeying' the party's directive not to extend the emergency.

Deuba in retaliation called a gathering of the party's national convention representatives and the Mahasamiti (general convention) members on June 16.

Three days later, the gathering, which took the form of an alternative party convention, amended the party statute and changed the leadership, electing Deuba as the new party president and ousting Koirala.

Verdict unexpected: Deuba

RSS

KATHMANDU, Sept. 17: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has, in a press statement issued here today, said the decision of the Election Commission was unexpected but everyone should be ready to face the circumstances arising from the decision.

Calling upon all members of the party to be united and organised, the Prime Minister has also appealed to all NC workers, well-wishers, democrats and the general public to face the situation with patience and enthusiasm and become actively involved in the forthcoming mid-term elections.

Deuba has requested all sectors concerned to hold the forthcoming mid-term elections in a free and fair manner and said the government is committed to providing all possible cooperation to the Election Commission in the electoral process.

Likewise, Minister for Works and Physical Planning and Nepali Congress leader Chiranjibi Wagle, in his reaction to the Election Commission's decision, said even though the Commission took a very long time to take a decision necessary attention was not given to the legal aspects existing in the country.

However, it is positive from the political point of view that both the factions of the Nepali Congress were recognised as political parties, he said.

Talking to RSS, Minister Wagle said his party will present its views to the Election Commission after taking a decision on connection with the name and election symbol of the party.

Tradition maintained, says Sushil

RSS

KATHMANDU, Sept. 17: Nepali Congress has said it has felt that the six decade long glorious tradition of the party has been maintained by the decision of the Election Commission, today.
The press release signed by Party General Secretary Sushil Koirala has called on all the party workers to face all kinds of the challenges with readiness. The Nepali Congress has also appealed them to face all kinds of challenges by uniting within the Nepali Congress as were called by the two all party meetings held in September.

The release also drew the attention of the Election Commission to undertake works including abidance of election code of conduct by alerting the government to be ready to protect the lives of the people in holding the elections in a free and fair manner on November 13, to resolve the Maoist problem and called for unity and commitment to the decisions.

EC recognition positive step

RSS

KATHMANDU, Sept. 17: A meeting held today under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister at the Prime Minister's residence welcomed the recognition by the Election Commission of the NC Central Working Committee headed by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

The meeting was organised with the objective of discussing the order issued by the Election Commission on the Nepali Congress authenticity dispute and future strategies to be adopted by the party.

It took as a surprise the failure of the Election Commission to reach a conclusion despite the universal truth that the decision of the General Convention of any political party is supreme in a democratic system and accordingly the authenticity of the Naya Baneswor General Convention of the party that followed the nc tradition.

The authenticity of the Naya Baneswor General Convention was accepted by the Election Commission and the Nepali Congress constituted with Deuba as the president was a result of that general convention which was legal and official working committee, the meeting said, adding that despite this the Commission deprived the party of its fundamental right to the election symbol for the upcoming elections. This is taken as an obstruction to the natural path of continuity of a party.
Though late and unable to finalize the entire issue, the decision was taken as an opportunity to safeguard the achievements of the popular movement of 1990 and to realize the recognition that all national problems can be resolved thorough a democratic manner and through the people's representative system.

The meeting also expected that the decision would provide positive encouragement to the existing dismal electoral atmosphere in the country.

In the context of the Election Commission accepting that 52 per cent of the NC General Convention members had taken part in the NC special general convention held at Baneswore, the meeting requested the Election Commission to preserve its election symbol and verify the NC General Convention members taking part in the NC special general convention before giving away the election symbol forthe mid-term elections.

Stating that the decision taken by the Election Commission had moved the party one step ahead in the fight launched by a majority of the party workers against the party led by Girija Prasad Koirala which had deviated from its principles, done injustice to the party workers through nepotism and unnatural alliance made with ultra-leftist and ultra-rightist undemocratic elements in violation of the traditions and dignity of the Nepali Congress, the meeting has requested all the Nepali Congress leaders and workers to unite under the leadership of nc president Deuba to defeat anti-democratic elements.

Govt for quality education: PM

RSS

Dhulikhel, Sept. 17: Prime Minister and Chancellor of Kathmandu University Sher Bahadur Deuba has said quality and practical education is necessary for developing and resolvong existing problems of the country.

Prime Minister Deuba made this remark while addressing the 8th convocation ceremony of Kathmandu University (KU) at Dhulikhel, Kavre district today.

Deuba said His Majesty's Government is committed to making education more relevant to the changing times as major contribution can be made to the development of the country only by the people receiving quality, technical and vocational education.

Stressing the need to mobilise the youth manpower to free the country from the existing national crisis, the Prime Minister said that enlightened people of the society could play a vital role in improving the living conditions of poor and illiterate rural people.

The KU Chancellor said that the educated citizens should properly use their skill and knowledge for uplift of the society and the country.

Commending the contributions being made by Kathmandu University in the education sector, Deuba expressed the hope that manpower developed by the university would make remarkable contribution to poverty alleviation and development of the country.

On the occasion KU Chancellor and Prime Minister Deuba gave away degrees to 468 students of different streams.

Deuba presented the Chancellor and Juddha Bahadur Shrestha gold medal to Anjana Goenka who secured highest marks in the MBA examination, vice Chancellor gold medal to Sushma Hyoju for securing highest grade in bachelors degree examination and the Rana Bahadur Shah gold medal to Reena Shrestha declared best student of management faculty.

Chairman of the Indian Institute of Science Prof. (Dr) Raja Ramanna said that development of Nepal was possible only through development in the fields of science and technology.

KU Vice Chancellor Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma expressed the view that a qualified and devoted person did not have to steal and be corrupt in order to make progress and earn money.

Earlier the 30th KU assembly meeting was held under the chairmanship of KU Chancellor and Prime Minister Deuba.

No alternative to polls: Leaders

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Sept. 17: Senior leaders of major political parties today reiterated that if the existing crisis is to be resolved politically, the government and the Maoists should immediately resume peace talks.

They said that the upcoming election should be held on the declared date to safeguard the achievements and the gains of the popular movement of 1990.

Bamdev Gautam, standing committee member of the CPN-UML, and former deputy Prime Minister, said that the political parties should not link the election with talks with the Maoists. "The election must be held on the stipulated time no matter in how many phases they are held and regardless of whether the Maoists join the election or not," he said.

No one should seek an alternative to the November 13 polls or try to change the basic features of the Constitution in the name of talks with the Maoists. "This would be nothing but a defeatist mentality."
Criticising the recent decision of the 10 major political parties, he said that the decision was regressive and would only push the country towards a more critical situation. But he accepted there was no alternative to talks to find a way out of the crisis. the problem through peaceful means.

All the political parties must forge consensus by taking the monarchy into confidence and by working within the democratic framework of the constitution to solve the problem. If the Maoists are interested in taking part in the election, the November 13 date could be deferred through a national consensus among the political parties, he said.

Former Chief of the Army Staff General Sachit Shumsher Rana said that the government and the Election Commission should work in tandem and evaluate the reality of the country's situation.
"If the Election Commission and government's administrative bodies are ready to hold the election, the security forces should be able to provide the necessary security," he said.

The problem should be resolved through talks and dialogue and all the political parties and government should have a clear vision about the consequences, such as on issues of amnesty or what to do with the Maoist militia, or those who have committed serious crimes, if the problem reaches a solution, he said.

Malla K. Sunder said that both the sides are willing to hold peace talks as soon as possible, but due to some obstacles they are being delayed. "The red corner notice of the Interpol has become difficult for the government to start direct talks with the Maoists," he said.

The programme was organized by the Reporters' Club.Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, member of National Planning Commission and advisor to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, said that the government was not against the talks, but there is no guarantee that the Maoists would enter talks. "They have lost their credibility."

Mahat reiterated that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was fully committed to holding the November 13 election. He said that he had no knowledge about the rumoured backdoor talks between the government and the Maoists.

Nepali Congress central working committee member Narahari Acharya said that if the political parties accept the Maoists' demand for a referendum, all of them must incorporate it in their election manifestoes.

Spokesperson of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Kamal Thapa said that the Maoists should declare an unilateral ceasefire to assure all that they are really serious about solving