POKHARA: Acting president of Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala today said the party lacked unity.

Addressing a western regional seminar on ‘challenges for democratisation of Nepali Congress’ here, Koirala said, “On the surface, the cadres seem to be united but their disunity will be seen during the upcoming party general convention,” Koirala said. “That there are four groups active within the party will create disputes during the convention.”

He said the NC should learn from the CPN-UML, which faced a near-split during its recent general convention, and avert a split.

“As a democratic party, the NC should adopt election during the convention,” he added. He claimed the party leadership would fall on youth hands post convention. “The youths will lead the party since president Girija Prasad Koirala is physically weak.”

He also blamed Unified CPN-Maoist of continuing with intimidation, extortion and killing. The NC veteran said the UCPN-M should join the government by forging an agreement with other parties since drafting the statute would be impossible without them.