Senior Leader of Nepali Congress (NC) Ram Chandra Paudel has endorsed the proposal by Vice-president Bimalendra Nidhi to choose the party leadership in the 14th general convention through consensus.
"I have been saying let's choose the leadership through consensus," Nidhi said during the virtual interaction organized by the party to mark the 107th birth anniversary of its founder BP Koirala on Wednesday. "This will not just ensure party unity but even benefit the party in the general election."
Speaking after Nidhi, Paudel supported the proposal. "Let's choose the leadership through consensus. But there should be fact-based grounds to elect leadership through consensus. Let's discuss who we all should agree on by putting every argument forward. We also need to discuss the grounds."
He also pointed that the leadership should pay attention toward how the general convention can be held amidst the COVID-19 pandemic when internal works remain incomplete.
Former general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula demanded central committee meeting pointing that the general convention cannot be held in February 2021 as scheduled. "The schedule for general convention has been completely affected. Distribution of active membership that should have been completed by mid-August have yet to be completed," he stated. "We already see clear signs that the general convention cannot be held in February. Let's call central committee meeting and hold lively discussion."
Speaking after other leaders, Deuba said he is for holding the general convention as scheduled but accepted that may not be possible due to the pandemic.
"General convention should be held. Whether to hold it in February or postpone it should be decided as you friends say," he stated.
Deuba has already extended his term by a year as per the rights conferred by the party statute. He can only extend the general convention by another six months as per the provision in the Constitution about political parties.
"What can I do if the general convention cannot be held in February. It must be postponed. It can be extended by six months as per the rights conferred by the Constitution. I also know that it cannot be extended beyond the limit set by the Constitution."
He claimed that he is working in a way that there are no disputes in the party. "It is true that Ganesh Man Singh and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai quit the party toward the end of their life. We should not hide the truth," he quipped. "I am trying to ensure that such disputes don't arise."
