Parties’ conventions
The Himalayan Times
6 January 2020
Parties’ conventions
Nepal and the people saw a series of major political parties’ general conventions in the recent days, generating both expectations and frustrations from the outcome of the conventions. In line with their parties’ constitution and the requirement of the Election Commission, all the political parties are supposed to hold their general conventions every four to five years depending on their constitutional provisions. Peoples’ major concern and curiosity were on the outcome of the UML, RPP, NC and CPN-MC conventions, who wanted to see the senior leaders of these major parties replaced by the second-rung leaders. This, however, did not happen in the three major political parties, except in the RPP “Party conventions of UML, RPP, NC and MC” (THT, January 4, Page 4).
UML’s Bhim Rawal showed courage by challenging his boss K.P.Oli but failed to garner a sizable number of votes against the later which indicated that the majority of the UML leaders still preferred to see Oli as their boss for the next four years despite his unacceptable way of running the party and the government. The RPP leaders and members made reasonable judgment throwing out their seasoned politician Kamal Thapa from his long-held chairmanship by voting representative of the new generation, Rajendra Lingden, in the top post, generating high expectations of achieving the party’s agenda of restoring monarchy and Hindu Kingdom.
Despite putting their full energy and vigour, the second rung leaders of the NC failed to unseat Deuba, who is bearing hazy political image without having any future vision for the party and is heavily criticized for his role in the MCC project. Likewise, the CPN-MC second-run leaders and members did not even try to challenge their long time boss Prachanda who is holding party’s top post for the last three decades “Dahal elected CPN-MC chairman unanimously for another 5-year term” (THT, January 4, Page 1). Having observed the outcome of these conventions, there does not seem to be much to expect from the UML.NC and MC with the same and tested persons.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj
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