RJP-N’s general convention from April 20 to 22

Kathmandu, June 20

The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal today decided to hold its first General Convention from April 20 to 22 in 2019, in a move that could anger the Election Commission which had told the party to hold its GC by mid-July.

A meeting of the RJP-N’s political committee amended the party statute to remove the provision that required the party to hold its first GC within one year from the date of formation of the party.

The RJP-N was formed on April 20, 2017, after six Madhesi parties — Sadbhawana Party, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Republican, Nepal Sadbhawana Party, National Madhes Socialist Party and the Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party-Nepal merged.

Member of the RJP-N presidium Rajendra Mahato said the political committee of the party had clearly stated in Section 22 of the party statute that the party’s GC would

be held from April 20 to 22 in 2019 and this date would not be changed again.

“This amendment was made to the party statue for the last time with the consent of all members of the committee. We will write a letter to the Election Commission informing it of the changes made to the party statute regarding the first general convention of the party and we hope the poll panel will endorse our action,” Mahato said.

Senior Advocate Surendra Bhandari said that it was only a question of morality for the RJP-N to abide by the original provision of its statute that stated the party would hold its GC within a year.

The RJP-N can amend its statute and hold its GC on the date it deems fit, he argued.

Bhandari said the laws only stipulated that the party must elect its office bearers every five years and that deadline could be extended by six months. EC spokespersons were not available for comment.

Mahato said that the first GC of the party will be a joyous moment for the party which will inject new life in the rank and file of the party, a task needed to be completed to energise the party. “The general convention of the party will pass the new statute of the party enabling the formation of party structures at various levels from central to local levels in a democratic manner,” Mahato said and added that the party cadres and leaders will be involved in a healthy competition for various roles within the party.

Mahato said that although the party had provisioned holding its first GC within one year, it could not do so as it had to engage in movements as well as local, provincial and parliamentary polls.

The party also decided to hold its next meeting of the political committee on July 5 to finalise the parliamentary party statute in the absence of which the party has not been able to elect its parliamentary party leader.

The party urged the government to amend the constitution as soon as possible and also demanded that the report submitted by the Girish Chandra Lal-led probe commission be immediately released. It also demanded that its lawmaker Resham Chaudhary be allowed to take the oath of office and secrecy. Chaudhary, who was indicted in the Tikapur killing case, is currently in judicial custody.

The RJP-N demanded the withdrawal of false cases filed against its leaders and cadres in various districts including Banke, Mahottari and Siraha.

The party formed a three-member committee comprising Laxman Lal Karna, Brikhesh Chandra Lal and Sarvendranath Shukla to finalise the party’s statute.