NC’s Paudel camp holds meeting

Kathmandu, October 15

A faction of the Nepali Congress led by senior leader Ramchandra Paudel today held a meeting to discuss developments related to the party’s statute amendment.

The gathering held at NC General Secretary Shashank Koirala’s residence in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, also discussed the NC Central Working Committee’s decision last week to retain the membership rule of its students wing — Nepal Students Union — barring students above 32 years from becoming its members.

The meeting was attended by leaders including Paudel, Ram Sharan Mahat, Dhan Raj Gurung, Prakash Man Singh and Nabindra Raj Joshi.

The factions led by Paudel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula have alleged that the party establishment did not follow due process in endorsing the age-limit provision.

Paudel, Sitaula, Singh, and Arjun Narshing KC had even written a note of dissent, arguing that the party’s establishment faction had imposed its unilateral decision without proper consultation, and got it endorsed on the basis of majority.

Singh said today’s meeting was just an informal gathering to discuss the progress made by the party’s statute drafting committee.

The NC is revising its statute to restructure the party organisation in line with the new federal set up of the country and electoral constituency delineation. The party’s organisational restructuring is also required to hold the party’s next general convention on time. As per the existing statute provision, the general convention is held every four years, and the next jamboree is around 18 months away.

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