FACTIONAL POLITICS
The Kathmandu Post
17
January 2016
FACTIONAL POLITICS
None of the major political parties of Nepal are free from factional, self-centred and
egoistic politics. Nepali Congress (NC), which is one of the largest and oldest
democratic parties, has not even remained untouched from this bad practice (“Factional
dispute in NC over party charter revision” 13 January, Page 3). Both Koirala
and Deuba factions are busy in luring party cadres towards their camps at such a
time when the party’s general convention is inching closure. Sources from the
party claim that the party is considering increasing the number of office
bearers like the CPN-UML.
However, the factional politics within the
party has been the problem for this process. There are strong suggestions coming
from the local and districts level to increase the number of office bearers for
making the party more inclusive as per Nepal’s new constitution which acknowledges many
ethnic groups and communities. In this context, UCPN (Maoist) has outnumbered the
other parties making its party structure more inclusive. UML has been the more
conservative and non-inclusive party considering its party structure.
NC has to play more constructive role in
the days to come being it one of the major forces to draft the new constitution.
The first and foremost job for it is to push and exert positive pressure on the
ruling parties to resolve the ongoing political and constitutional disputes
with Madhes based parties soon and resume the smooth supply of fuel and other
essential commodities at the earliest possible. It has to keep its eyes wide
open in ensuring that the government machineries are properly carrying out
rehabilitation and reconstruction works in the quake affected areas. It is
hoped that the NC will stand united after its general convention and comes
forward as one single NC to play more constructive and proactive opposition
role in the days to come.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj
