The party's Central Working Committee meeting on Sunday merely decided to reserve two Central Committee members for each province. Earlier, the party statute had reserved a Central Committee member for each of the 14 zones.
Though the party statute drafting committee had proposed two options on adopting a federal structure for the party, the NC Central Committee meeting declined the proposal. A meeting of party office bearers agreed to keep the party statue unchanged at the upcoming general convention, except for a reserve quota of 14 under the provinces.
With this decision, the aim of some leaders in the party's establishment faction to increase the number of office bearers has eluded them. Ananda Dhungana-led party statute drafting committee had proposed a senior vice-president, two vice-presidents and three deputy general-secretaries in the party, which could have helped the establishment side accomodate the aspirants for top party posts.
Similarly, the draft statute had also proposed provincial bodies in which some Central Committee members and district presidents under the respective province would be members of its executive committee. “As I am busy with the district convention in Dhanusha, I am unaware of the party decision,” Dhungaha told Republica over the phone on Sunday evening.
Women leaders of the party have opposed the decision and accused the party of failing to adopt the new constitution. “We have demanded at least one-third women's representation in the party Central Committee and a women's central committee from each province. But the party leadership paid no heed to us,” NC Central Committee Member Meena Pandey said. “We will take this issue to the party general convention.
However, NC leader Dhan Raj Gurung said that the party statute could be amended through the 'Mahasamiti' meeting immediately after the general convention. “It could have sent a positive message had we amended the party's statute in line with the new constitution,” Gurung however said, adding, it was the right time as our party general convention was being held right after the commencement of the new constitution in the country.
Some party leaders including those loyal to the Sher Bahadur Deuba faction had argued that the party statute should not be changed from the upcoming general convention as the party has very little time for discussions on the proposed amendment. NC's general convention is starting from coming Sunday.
'Demarcation can be revised through consensus'
Meanwhile, the NC Central Committee meeting on Sunday passed the party's revised draft policy and program, which will be endorsed from the convention. In the revision, the policy and program has stated that provincial demarcations could be changed through dialogue and consensus, said a party leader.
Earlier, party leaders had flayed the draft policy and program for remaining silent on the Madhes crisis and other major political issues.
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