KATHMANDU, Aug 30: Even as the party´s Central Working Committee (CWC) members espouse differing views on the number and modality of federal provinces in the upcoming state restructuring, the ongoing CWC meeting of the Nepali Congress (NC) concluded on Thursday with a decision to go for a seven-province federal model, while keeping open a 13-province option.
The NC CWC meeting took the decision to uphold the proposal on federal provinces in view of a majority of members standing in favor of either a seven-province federal model that includes four provinces in the Hill and Mountain region and three in the Tarai or a 13-province model with five provinces in the Tarai as an alternative model. [break]
The position on federalism has now become NC´s official stance, with the CWC members unanimously deciding to endorse the political paper that includes suggestions received from Mahasamiti members, along with inputs from CWC members. The NC had earlier announced it was to draft an election manifesto based on the political paper endorsed by the CWC.
Though the proposal mentions the number of federal provinces in the Hill and Mountain region and the Tarai, it does not say anything about the boundaries and names of the proposed provinces. A majority of the CWC members deliberating on the political paper at the CWC meeting on Thursday demanded that the party come up with a concrete model on federalism to be included in the party´s manifesto so that it would not have to face criticism that its idea of federalism was vague.
Putting forth his views on the political paper, CWC member Gagan Thapa argued that the party should prepare a draft constitution with a concrete proposal on federal provinces and their boundaries and an action plan for the next five years in government. "Our debate is currently centered only on the number of provinces, but none of the parties has floated any idea about local units. I propose to create 1,000 units in the third tier of federalism," he said at the meeting.
While some CWC members suggested making the NC´s stance on federalism more clear before going to the polls, another CWC member, Dr Minendra Rijal, argued that a 13-province federal model would be best suited for addressing the aspirations of the people. Likewise, CWC member Nabindra Raj Joshi shed light on the need to bring some change with continuity in foreign policy in view of the changing dynamics of foreign policy and the world order.
CWC members Deep Kumar Upadhyay, Padma Narayan Chaudhary, Maha Laxmi Upadhyaya Dina, Anand Prasad Dhungana, Surendra Raj Pandey, Shankar Bhandari, Sujata Pariyar and Dilli Raj Regmi had also put forth their views on various aspects of the political paper on Thursday.
Among other things, the CWC meeting decided to give recognition to the Loktantrik Newa Khala, Tribhuvan University Democratic Employees Association, Democratic Forest Technicians´ Association and Democratic Agriculturalists Association-Nepal as the party´s well-wisher organizations.
NC mulling to form ´Search Committee´
Following the decision of two prominent personalities, Rameshwor Khanal and Shrawan Mukarung, to join the party, the NC is mulling to form a separate research committee so that more people known for their contribution to society could be brought into the party.
NC President Sushil Koirala has responded positively to CWC member Thapa´s proposal on forming such a committee. Thapa had cited the practice of the Indian National Congress of forming such a committee to bring public figures from various walks of life into the party.
Thapa´s proposal was seconded by another CWC member, Deep Kumar Upadyaha, at Thursday´s CWC meeting. "NC has to bring in more people who can contribute to society through their knowledge and expertise. There has been a preliminary understanding on giving that responsibility to those who have recently joined the party," Thapa told Republica.
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