KATHMANDU, March 3: The 13th General Convention of the Nepali Congress (NC) was inaugurated amidst a gathering of thousands of party members, top leaders of various political parties and international representatives, at the Tundikhel Khulamanch in Kathmandu, Thursday.
The four-day mega event will conclude on Sunday after formulating the party’s policies and electing a new leadership for the next four years.
Leaders mainly from the three panels led by Acting President Ram Chandra Paudel, former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and party General Secretary Krishna Prasad Situala have already announced their candidates from their respective groups.
The organizing committee has scheduled a closed-door session for Friday and Saturday, and commencement of voting to elect the new leaders on Sunday.
Addressing the inaugural function, top NC leaders laid emphasis on implementing the new constitution and leading the country toward economic prosperity as the party’s major priority in the days to come.
el, who is contending for the party’s top post, said that the NC has succeeded in producing a new constitution through a Constituent Assembly under its leadership, and that the party’s top priority from now onward will be full implementation of the new constitution.
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“As we already have a democratic constitution, our next priority is to transform the country and it is the NC that will lead this task of society’s transformation,” Paudel announced at the colorful inaugural function held at the open air theater in the heart of the capital. “For this, our party and its leaders also need to transform within themselves. Otherwise we cannot change the country.”
He said the NC is ready to exercise maximum flexibility for addressing the disputes over province demarcations.
Paudel emphasized the need for orienting the NC toward democratic socialism and for its leaders to embrace a simple, transparent and democratic lifestyle.
Another contestant for party president, Deuba, said the party’s major priorities would be implementation of the new constitution, carrying out of the reconstruction task efficiently, resolving provincial boundary disputes, and mending bilateral relations with India that soured in recent months. “This can be done only under our party’s leadership and we will do it,” said Deuba.
top post, Sitaula, who leads completely a new panel, emphasized the need for electing fresh leaders and formulating new policies.
NC must stand firm in its commitment: PM
Lauding the NC’s decades-long struggle for achieving and institution-alizing democratic rights in the country, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli underscored the need for the major political parties to work together for the implementation of the new constitution.
The prime minister, in his brief address, urged the NC leaders to develop the grand old party as a reliable and dependable political force.
“Nepali people want to see the NC as a trustworthy party and one that stands firm in its commitment. I want the same thing,” said Oli. Many believe that Oli was indicating the NC’s ‘breach’ of the understanding reached between the two largest parties (NC and UML) to elect Oli as prime minister following completion of the prime ministerial tenure of then NC president Sushil Koirala.
What mistake did we make to deserve blockade: Dahal
Also addressing the gathering, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal asked Indian leaders sharing the same podium what serious mistake had the Nepalis committed to trigger the Indian government’s blockade against Nepal.
Drawing the attention of India’s BJP leaders, Dahal complained that Nepalis are repeatedly compelled to undergo bitter experiences at the hands of India. “I want to convey my message to India’s ruling party through Bhagat Singhji [of BJP] that this history shouldn’t be repeated,” said Dahal.
Deputy Prime Ministers Bijay Gachchhadar of Madhesi People’s Rights Forum-Democratic, CP Mainali of CPN (ML), and Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Janamorcha and former prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, among other representatives from various political parties, also addressed the gathering.
Photos: Tek Narayan Bhattarai
