The party establishment and the Deuba faction on Wednesday held separate meetings to chalk out future strategy, indicating that the chasm in the party will further widen and will imperil it in the days to come. [break]
NC leaders said that both party President Sushil Koirala and Deuba will try this time round to avoid a repetition of the vertical split of 2002. They, however, admit that the division in the party is certain to have far-reaching implications both for the party and for national politics.
"The division will have an impact on the party´s role in national politics and its ability to grapple with future challenges at the national level," said central committee member and youth leader Gagan Thapa, one of the leaders who worked hard till the last minute to bring the rival factions to a compromise.
Internal division in the party had already played its part during the prime ministerial election last month. The party failed to elect its candidates -- Deuba for a consensus government and Ram Chandra Paudel for a majority government -- as the top leaders were not wholeheartedly supporting either candidate.
NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC said the deepening rift will also dampen the party´s bargaining on the issues of peace and constitution writing. He was of the view that unity in the Nepali Congress is a must to ensure a democratic constitution and conclusion of the peace process.
“This is not a time when the party can afford to spend its energies in internal squabbles; the situation demands we put our strength to use to ensure promulgation of a democratic constitution," KC said.
The NC is not known for a vibrant party organization, nor is it skilful in mobilizing its base. The current rift could further slacken the party machinery.
"As the party’s strength gets divided it will further shrink the party´s already shrinking organization," lamented NC leader Narahari Acharya.
Leader Thapa foresees even worse consequences. He argues that as the current feud involves key sister organizations like Nepal Tarun Dal, the youth wing, the party´s capacity to enroll new members will further erode.
"Sister organizations like Tarun Dal and Nepal Student Union are key to adding new members of the 18-35 age group. If they become defunct, as they now are, it will affect new membership, mass mobilization and ultimately the party’s electoral prospects,” said Thapa.
If there is any positive outcome to this feud, it could be this: The top leadership gradually losing its relevance and creating space for a new leadership to emerge.
The recent central committee meetings held to discuss dissolution of the sister wings saw a few central committee members like Thapa and Dr Minendra Rijal questioning the ability of Koirala, Deuba and Paudel to run the party.
Leaders say that the rift in the aftermath of dissolution of the sister organizations will make such voices stronger and may offer an opportunity for the emergence of new leadership in the party.
There is an increasing feeling in the NC that the current leadership troika comprising Koirala, Deuba and Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Paudel have lost steam and cannot lead the party during these challenging times. The ongoing feud is only likely to reinforce that feeling.
“We argued during last year´s general convention that neither Koirala nor Deuba can lead the party. Now our claim has been vindicated. The voice for new leadership will become stronger," said Acharya.
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