KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 27
Nepali Congress Spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat today said the NC was monitoring activities of the rival faction led by Shekhar Koirala and any action against party decisions would attract disciplinary action.
Speaking at a press conference organised at the party headquarters here today, Mahat said all decisions regarding lists of candidates for proportional representation election system for upcoming provincial and parliamentary polls were taken fairly and on the basis of consensus.
Admitting some mistakes in PR lists due to technical reasons, Mahat said the NC would amend the list within the deadline set by the Election Commission. Party spokesperson's remarks came a day after the rival faction led by Koirala threatened protest if the faction was not given a fair share of candidates in the PR list.
Mahat said PR lists were prepared after comprehensive discussions with all relevant levels of party committees and incumbent and former office bearers, including leaders of provincial chapters. He said allegations that PR lists were prepared unilaterally were wrong. "If any office bearer was not satisfied with PR lists, s/he should have protested,"
Mahat said in an oblique reference to Koirala not attending the gathering of the Deuba faction.
Without naming Koirala, Mahat said all leaders who had contested party presidency during the last National Convention were part of the process that decided PR lists.
"We are hearing from party leaders that their faction did not get even 10 per cent. That is not rational," Mahat added. Mahat said the party had already fixed criteria for candidates who would be contesting upcoming parliamentary and provincial elections scheduled for November 20.
He urged party leaders and cadres to unitedly run the election campaign to ensure party's victory.
"The Nepali Congress is a large party and it is natural that there are many eligible leaders who aspire to contest elections, but fulfilling everybody's desire may not be possible. I urge all to join the election campaign unitedly," Mahat added.
On the controversy over the citizenship bill, Mahat said it was unfortunate that an attempt was being made to give political colour to the citizenship bill.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 28, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
