It was not surprising that Sher Bahadur Deuba  was elected President of Nepali Congress (NC) by defeating Ram Chandra Paudel in the recent election, which was held as part of its General Convention (GC), considering the outcome of the first round of election (“Roaring win for Sher Bahadur Deuba”, THT, 8 March, Page 1). Being Prime Minister of Nepal for three times, Deuba has gained ample experience in running the government. Now, the time has come for him to manage and effectively run his party at a time when the country is in the implementation stage of the new constitution. The NC should now leave behind its factional politics and move ahead as one single united party to face the political challenges in the coming days. In the past, it has made a number of political mistakes due to its factional politics forcing the country towards political uncertainty. Its senior leaders used to play egoistic and self-centred politics causing the party to split. The breakaway party was headed by Sher Bahadur Deuba back in 2002. The two Congresses had reunited in 2007 after realizing the importance of one single strong party. If its senior leaders continue to play factional politics, it will definitely lose its charm among its voters. It is yet to be seen whether NC will like to continue its Opposition role in the parliament or start playing the game of bringing down the Oli-led government. One of the senior leaders of the coalition government has been publicly announcing that the new government will be formed soon after the NC’s General Convention. `It seems that it all now depends on Sher Bahadur Deuba’s next move to see the NC’s future political strategy. It has definitely equal responsibilities with the other major political parties to successfully implement the new constitution, complete the reconstruction programme and move the nation towards economic prosperity.

Rai Biren Bangdel, Maharajgunj

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I would like to congratulate the Nepali Congress for an exemplary role played among South Asian nations in democratically electing a new leadership (“Roaring win for Sher Bahadur Deuba”, THT, March 8). I also want to extend my heartiest congratulations to Nepali citizens as well as supporters of NC greatly appreciating the peaceful democratic process in electing their new leadership through a national general convention with positive discussion and a peaceful, violence-free election process.  With this Act Nepal stands heads and shoulders above all the South Asian nations in historically demonstrating a peaceful and democratic transition of power. Dynastic politics and non-democratic under-the-table deals and negotiations in most South Asian nations have polluted and corrupted the temple of democracy there. It is unhealthy to carry the burden of an old leadership for decades when new dynamics of politics and socio-economic changes are reshaping societies in South Asia.

Saikat Kumar Basu, via e-mail