Deuba likely to further postpone NC convention By Our Reporter

By Our Reporter

The 14^th national convention of the Nepali Congress is not likely to be held in the rescheduled date of February 19-21 next year not only because of the Covid-19 fear, but due to the unexpected challenge faced by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba from his camp.

Against the assumption that Deuba will be the single candidate from the establishment faction, vice president Bimalendra Nidhi has openly expressed his desire to contest for the post of party president, although he has not yet announced his candidacy.

Nidhi,son of late Mahendra Narayan Nidhi, has been a confidant of Deuba since long and Nidhi was key figure for Deuba’s election to the top party post in 2016.

Then Deuba was reported to have told Nidhi that he would support the latter in the 14^th general convention to become party chief, and now Nidhi has reminded Deuba of his words by lobbying for the top post.

When Nidhi has shown interest in the top party post, and as vice president of the party, it was natural for Nidhi to claim for the post of president, Deuba may find an excuse to further defer the convention so that he could convince Nidhi.

There is already Covid-19 fear to prevent the conventions of the lower party committees, which should be concluded to elect the representatives to central convention and Nidhi’s latest announcement will surely prompt Deuba to defer the convention for July or August next year.

When Nidhi has caused a stir within the establishment camp, the rival faction has half a dozen leaders willing to contest for the post of president. As such, the rival faction leaders may also endorse Deuba’s plan to postpone the party convention.

By now, at least five leaders—Ram Chandra Paudel, Dr. Shekhar Koirala, Dr. Sashank Koirala, Prakshman Singh and Arjun Nara Singh KC—of the rival faction are ready to contest for the top post. Koiralas and Singh have legacy in the Nepali Congress, with Dr. Sashank being son of late BP Koirala and Dr. Shekhar of Keshav Koirala and Singh as son of Ganeshman Singh. owever, they cannot defeat the leader of the establishment faction unless they select a single candidate from among them, and most party workers and well wishers have expressed their views in social media that only Dr. Shekhar Koirala could be the ideal candidate from the rival faction.

Besides, the above said five leaders, Gagan Thapa and Krishna Sitaula will also contest for the top post. In the 13^th convention, they had also contested the election from the third camp.

People’s Review Print Edition