NC MMs poser on leadership crisis

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) Mahasamiti Member (MM)s on Wednesday accused the party leadership, including president Girija Prasad Koirala and his coterie in the Central Committee (CC), of its high-handed approach and failure to curb the Unified-CPN-Maoists’ influence in the country.

They alleged that the leadership was responsible for the NC’s ‘sorry state of affairs’, which, in a way, contributed to the rise of the Maoists as the most potent political force.

“The leadership failed to understand the Maoists’ strategy since the beginning. No wonder, it conceded to all their demands. The Maoists took advantage of the leniency and flouted all agreements. Consequently, they have been posing a serious threat to the party and democracy as well,” said party sources, citing the statements of Mahasamiti members. Mohan Bahadur Basnet, a Mahasamiti member from Sindhupalchowk, gave an insight into the heated goings-on at Nepal Academy, the venue for the three-day meeting, which has since then been extended by a day, here today. “Some persons, including CC member Krishna Prasad Sitaula, have deliberately made the party president lose touch with reality during the entire peace process. This was amply demonstrated during our drubbing in the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections last year. Sitaula doubled up as a Maoist agent during the CA polls. He betrayed the NC spirit,” alleged Basnet.

Ambika Panta, a Mahasamiti member from Bara, blamed the CC for the party’s ‘misery’.

During today’s meting 46 members expressed their views. A majority of them preferred election to nomination of all office-bearers, including the CC members. Acting president Sushil Koirala and his cronies wanted to put forth the leadership issue to the CC again for its decision. On Saturday, the CC, however, pushed the ball on the Mahasamiti’s court.