By Ram Prasad Dahal
Kathmandu, July 3: As the 14th general convention of the Nepali Congress nears, there has been widespread speculation regarding the election of its next leadership.
The party is scheduled to hold its 14th general convention from September 1-4 amid uncertainty unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Nepali Congress has been an instrumental force since 1951 in shaping up the political course of the country, it is understandable that the attention of so many people is drawn to it.
Over half a dozen leaders, including current president Sher Bahadur Deuba, have already announced that they are aspiring for the post of the party president.
Besides Deuba, senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel, vice-president Bimalendra Nidhi, general secretary Dr. Shashanka Koirala, influential leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala, former general secretary Prakash Man Singh, Sujata Koirala and Kalyan Gurung have said that they will be contesting for the post.
This is probably the first time that more than a half dozen leaders have announced that they are aspiring for the top post. Earlier, only two or three leaders used to contest for the post.
Political analyst Lokesh Dhakal said due to lack of a unanimous personality many leaders are now vying for the party presidency.
“In the past, the party had undisputed leaders like Ganesh Man Singh, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Girija Prasad Koirala and others. No one used to dare to contest against them. But now, many leaders are preparing to contest for the post.” said Dhakal.
Purusottam Basnet, who is known as an NC historian, said a lack of unanimity in the party is responsible for the crowd of candidates.
As claimed by Basnet, leaders from both factions of Deuba and senior leader Paudel are in fray challenging their team leader. Vice-president Nidhi from Deuba faction and the three Koiralas, Singh, and Gurung from Paudel faction are among the leaders who have announced their candidacy by challenging their faction leader.
Historically, there were leaders like Matrika Prasad Koirala, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala, who became the party president unanimously.
The party was formed in 1950
by merging the Nepali National Congress and the Nepal Democratic Congress and Matrika Prasad Koirala became its first president.
After his two-year tenure, BP Koirala became the party president from 1952 to 1956. Subarna Shamsher Rana was elevated to that post in 1956. One year later, in 1957, BP Koirala became party president unanimously from a special general convention of the party held the same year, and continued to hold that position till 1982, when Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was lifted to that post unanimously. He served in that capacity until 996.
Since 1996, Girija Prasad Koirala became the party president for three terms lasting until 2010. After his demise, Sushil Koirala became the president from the 12th general convention held in 2010 and continued to hold the position until 2016. After his demise, Deuba became president from the 13th general convention, in which Paudel and leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula had contested for the top post.
Despite the growing list of candidacy for the top post, NC insiders say the number of candidates would decrease in the upcoming 14th convention.
Basnet and Dhakal said the leaders would come together, significantly dropping the number of candidates. Dhakal said there would be only one candidate from the three Koiralas.
Basnet said due to a provision of the party statute that securing 51 per cent vote for party president is compulsory, there would be the second round voting between the two leaders who secure the highest number of votes in the first round.