Kathmandu, February 25

Unhappy with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s handling of political affairs, party leaders close to Ramchandra Paudel have decided to mount pressure on Deuba to call a Central Committee meeting.

Leaders close to Paudel are unhappy with Deuba for not nominating party office bearers and not forming the party’s 28 departments, according to sources.

Party sources also said leaders close to Paudel were unhappy with Deuba as he was not playing a lead role on issues related to local level polls and the constitution amendment bill.

According to the party’s statute, the party president was supposed to form these departments two months after the NC General Convention but he has not done so. The Nepali Congress party’s 13th GC was held in March last year.

According to Bal Bahadur KC, who participated in a meeting at NC General Secretary Shashank Koirala’s residence today, leaders close to Paudel said Deuba’s style of  handling  political affairs could push  the party into a corner.

“The leaders concluded that the party had gradually lost its leading role in national issues such as local elections and constitution amendment,” said another leader on condition of anonymity.

The leaders also opposed Deuba’s endorsement of ambassadors recommended by the government. “We have decided to draw Deuba’s attention to some controversial ambassadorial nominees,” the leader added.

Leaders close to Paudel want the party president to nominate party office bearers immediately.

The leaders also hinted at running a signature campaign to mount pressure on Deuba to call the central working committee meeting immediately.

KC said Deuba was running the party unilaterally. He also said leaders who had gathered at Shashank Koirala’s residence were worried about the dwindling credibility of the party.

It is not true that the president is running the party unilaterally, he has discussed issues with leaders while selecting ministers and deciding to hold general conventions of the party’s sister wings

• NC leader Bal Krishna Khand

They were dissatisfied with  the party’s role in the recommendations for the post of inspector general of police, judges of High Courts and ambassadors. “We have also urged Paudel to raise the issue of poor public service delivery with Deuba.

The leaders also objected to what they called unilateral decision of Deuba on national issues.

KC said Deuba had not held enough discussion within the party on local elections and constitution amendment.

Some of the leaders in the party are publicly expressing contradictory views on burning issues. NC leader Bal Krishna Khand, who is close to Deuba, said the president himself was preparing to call a central working committee meeting. “It is not true that the president is running the party unilaterally. He has discussed issues with other leaders while selecting ministers and deciding to hold general conventions of the party’s sister wings,” he said, adding that if anybody had any grudge against the party president, they were free to discuss issues with him.