Mainstream disgruntled lot, say NC dissidents

Kathmandu, January 21:

Nepali Congress dissidents suggest party leadership to bring “all extreme rights and extreme Lefts” into the mainstream politics to ensure a meaningful Constituent Assembly election.

The dissidents claim they are not monarchists. They, however, said the NC should take the initiative in mainstreaming the institution of monarchy as what was done with the CPN-Maoist.

“Mainstreaming the institution of monarchy does not necessarily mean the parties should accept it as a driving force,” NC leader Sarat Singh Bhandari, a member of the dissident faction, told this daily today. Bhandari said the NC should take the lead to take the country out from the current political confusion by encompassing all armed and unarmed forces under one umbrella.

He cautioned of unfortunate circumstances if the NC ever thought of holding the Constituent Assembly election by “eliminating any force” through power. “The Madhesi and other forces must be taken into confidence for a significant CA polls,” he added suggesting his party to adopt what he said “extreme sensitivity” while dealing with the Madhes issue.

Asked to comment on the idea, Minister Without Portfolio Sujata Koirala said she would “not speak anything now”. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s daughter Sujata faced wide criticism within and outside her party for her pro-monarchy remarks last week in Biratnagar thus creating ripples in the political arena.

A party leader who insisted anonymity, however, accused the dissidents of trying to generate “pro-monarchy environment”. “Since they cannot advocate straightforwardly in favour of monarchy, they are taking an indirect means,” he said.

The leader, who also is a lawmaker, said Sujata’s opinion and the dissidents’ views are against the party’s Mahasamiti decision of going for a republic, which would only weaken the party. Govinda Raj Joshi, who represents the dissident faction, said the party should not deviate from its identity. “Or else, the party would lose,” Joshi added.

The dissidents were likely to meet NC president and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today to “suggest” him to become more sensitive while going hand-in-hand with the Left parties. “We could not meet him owing to his poor health condition,” he added.