NC Parliamentary Party Polls

-By Jawahar Manandhar

For the first time in its history Nepali Congress has chosen its the leader in the parliament by an election. The election was historic in the sense that it has opted to do away with the past system of choosing the leader through consensus. The just held election was more so because the election was held not between the contemporaries but between the old and new or second generation leaders. Thus the Nepali Congress has gone for a true democratic exercise even within the party thereby showing an example to other parties too to follow. This has also silenced the critics who are never tired of criticizing the NC and its leaders for not adhering to democratic norms. However, the same critics are now saying that with the holding of the elections has created a rift within the party. Even there has been attempts to portray the election as a feud rather than a healthy competition between the old and new generation leaders. Worth remembering here is the fact what Prime Minister Koirala has said, ‘There is no enemies in NC and in a democracy election is very much a normal affair’ said Koirala after being elected the NC PP leader. ‘This is for me a big achievement, this is the first time in NC history that this democratic exercise has been applied’ said Deuba, these statements clearily indicate that in NC the true value of democratic norms are accepted and followed not only in words but in practice too.

It should also be remembered here that former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai while announcing his resignation had stressed on passing the leadership to the second generation leader. Deuba then opted to prove his mettle by fighting the election. The 43 votes he had garnered clearly shows that young and second generation leaders too are trying to assert their position in the party and at that they seem to have been successful. Whatever may be the permutation and combination of the PP election it is a proof that time is definitely ripe for the second generation leaders to come forward. It is also to be noted that Prime Minister Koirala, for the sake of democracy and democratic norms and values, agreed to fight the election.

The voluntary resignation of Bhattarai and Koirala’s willingness to fight election with the second generation leaders can be regarded as milestones in democratic exercisein the party. This may also be an indication that the old generation leaders are now convinced that the new generation have become competent enough to run the affairs of the state.

Meanwhile, the announcement of candidacy for the post of president of Nepali Congress by former deputy Prime Minister and NC vice-president Shailaja Acharya in the coming Tenth General Convention to be held in October is also a testimony that the new generation has started to assert themselves and the old generation is ready to handover the rein if what Shailaja Acharya has said is to be believed.

She has reportedly said that Party President Girija Prasad Koirala had told her to take over as the acting president of Nepali Congress. But all the party workers need to give serious contemplation on the fact that in Nepali Congress, she has said, two distinct streams can be seen-one which believes in power mongering and groupism while another is still dedicated to the fundamental norms and values that NC stands for. This itself is a sad facet of the present NC lawmakers or politicians to have been portrayed as such. The second generation leaders have also the moral obligations to prove that besides being capable of running the state affairs they are equally competent to do away with power mongering and groupism to strengthen the Nepali Congress.