Kathmandu, October 6

The Nepali Congress Central Working Committee today concluded that the left alliance was against national unity and democratic system, and could affect constitution implementation and the peace process.

The NC decided to form an electoral alliance among democratic, nationalist and progressive forces to meet the challenge from the left alliance and ensure political stability and protect the achievements made so far.

“The left alliance has definitely posed a challenge. But the NC has a history of facing such challenges and emerging victorious. So we will convert this challenge into opportunity,” said NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC, adding that the meeting also discussed ways to maintain unity within the party and resolve internal problems so as to make it more robust.

The meeting also concluded that the CPN-MC had breached the three-point agreement reached with the NC while forming the incumbent government by joining forces with the UML.

“Formation of the left alliance has created a new situation, so the CWC has appealed to all NC workers and members to remain proactive,” said NC leader Bal Krishna Khand.

The meeting approved a proposal stating that those who were elected lawmakers under the Proportional Representation system in the Constituent Assembly election would not be included in the party’s PR list for the upcoming parliamentary and provincial elections. The party will also not give tickets to those who contested elections for local-level chiefs and deputy chiefs.

This means, those who were elected under the PR system previously should now contest under the First-Past-the-Post system and candidates for local-level elections would not be able to contest either parliamentary or provincial elections.

The meeting also decided to bar rebel candidates, their proposers and supporters, and those against whom the party had recommended action for anti-party activities during the local-level elections from contesting in the upcoming elections.

The meeting authorised NC President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to form a central parliamentary board to select candidates for the parliamentary and provincial elections.

It also decided to finalise candidates for both PR and FPTP systems by October 13.

The Nepali Congress CWC came up with these decisions after a marathon meeting that lasted almost 12 hours.

The CWC also decided to continue holding talks with other parties to explore possible electoral alliance.