‘Why don’t they find Deuba’s replacement through general convention?’

KATHMANDU, Jan 7: Nepali Congress leader Mohan Bahadur Basnet has challenged the rival faction of the main opposition party Nepali Congress to find the replacement of President Sher Bahadur Deuba through the General Convention.

Basnet’s remarks comes at a time when the presidents of 46 districts close to Ram Chandra Paudel faction have gathered at the party’s headquarters in Sanepa demanding Deuba withdraw his recent “unilateral” decisions to schedule the 14th General Conventions for Feb 19-21 next year, extend the term of current Central Working Committee for a year and increase the number of party central departments for existing 28 to 47 through a CWC meeting amid boycott from the rival factions.

According to Basnet, Deuba has ensured the environment for holding the general convention and strengthen the party.

“The dissatisfied faction had demanded the announcement of the general convention as soon as possible, which the working committee has done,” said Basnet.

Paudel faction has expressed reservation over the announcement of the date saying the general convention was pushed three months away from the date they had demanded (mid-November).

“What disaster will come if the general convention is held in February instead of November?” Basnet vented ire. “Holding the convention earlier does not solve any problem”.

“It will be better if everything goes as per the event calendar.”

The disgruntled faction have long questioned Dueba’s leadership and when inquired about the Paudel and Dr. Shekhar Koirala’s craving for Deuba’s replacement, he said, “Why don’t they find Deuba’s replacement through the general convention.”

“Paudel faction is only adding to the party’s problems. Because of them, the party has not been able to hold the NSU election and form departments. If they continue like this, timely conduction of convention will come to question.”

“They are only making the party weaker.”