Kathmandu, February 23

Nepali Congress establishment side is preparing to endorse a proposal to increase the number of office bearers at the last meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee to be held before the 13th National Generation Convention that will kick off in Kathmandu on March 3.

Rival faction led by senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, however, is preparing to oppose the proposal, as it would make it easier for the establishment side to keep its strength intact.

The coordinator of NC’s statute amendment committee Ananda Prasad Dhungana, who belongs to the establishment side, was supposed to table the proposal at today’s CWC meeting, but he did not attend the meeting.

“I am in Dhanusha to complete constituency level conventions of the district and will be unable to return to Kathmandu before February 27. After I return, we will table the proposal of statute amendment at the last CWC meeting. The CWC will endorse the proposal and take it to the general convention for final endorsement,” Dhungana told THT over phone.

However, statute amendment panel member Balkrishna Khand, who belongs to Deuba-led camp, said there would be strong opposition to the proposal.

“Even if the establishment side gets the proposal endorsed from CWC, they will not be able to endorse it from general convention, as we (the rival faction) are going to have majority in the convention,” said Khand.

Dhungana has proposed two vice-presidents and two joint general secretaries. The existing provision has place for one vice-president and one joint general secretary.

The establishment side plans to make Prakash Man Singh, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Ram Sharan Mahat, Shashanka Koirala, Shekhar Koirala and Sujata Koirala office bearers.

Meanwhile, Mahesh Acharya and Chandra Bhandari today urged the party leaders to focus on the party’s future and its policy and programmes instead of personal aspiration of grabbing the top party post.

“We are not being serious on improving the party organisation and its policies and programmes. The NC does not only need an able leader but also appropriate policies and programmes to address the post-constitution challenges,” said Acharya.

Today’s CWC meeting decided to urge the government authorities concerned to give complete shape to the Judicial Council before proceeding with the process of appointment of judges, stated NC.