The Sher Bahadur Deuba faction on Wednesday held a meeting of its district presidents to prepare its strategy for the convention. The faction is claiming that the rival camp led by party President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala committed “fraud” while distributing active memberships.

The meeting was held to get information about the alleged irregularities regarding active memberships and their strength at the grassroots level. The membership distribution is a key issue in the party because convention representatives are elected by them. The representatives then elect the leadership.

Prakash Sharan Mahat, a leader close to Deuba, said district leaders complained that Koirala camp is bypassing party organisation to distribute memberships. “This is unacceptable,” he said. Due to the dispute, the deadline of distributing memberships has been often extended and a committee has been formed to resolve the disputes. Party Spokesperson Dilendra Badu said there are some complaints regarding the distribution of active memberships. He, however, dismissed the accusation that Koirala faction monopolised the distribution process.

Deuba faction has also objected to the preparations for amending the party’s statute to create more posts of office bearers saying that it is unnecessary. Currently, the party has seven posts of office bearers (president, senior leader, vice president, two general secretaries, treasurer and joint general secretary).

Koirala and Deuba both are the key contenders for the post of party president during the convention. Deuba has been defeated twice earlier and thus wants to gain victory at any cost this time around. Sources said Deuba believes that his desire to lead the party will effectively end if he is defeated this time too.

Leaders close to Deuba say their position has been strengthened after 2010 convention as they increased their influence in key sister organisations. Koirala, on the other hand, has a strong command in the party’s structures at the district, regional and grassroots level. He wants to become president once again and hand over the leadership to leaders from the Koirala family. Meanwhile, fearing that Koirala could use the state mechanism to garner votes during the convention, Deuba faction is for ending the constitution drafting process as soon as possible so that it will pave the way for Koirala to resign.

Deuba faction charges that Koirala is lingering the statute drafting process till the convention. Leaders close to Koirala, however, claim he wants to complete the statute drafting process before the convention. They argue that such accomplishment will help Koirala win the election.

Parallel committees formed

TIKAPUR: The two Nepali Congress factions have formed parallel committee following the dispute over membership distribution in the district. The dispute worsened after party cadres close to Shushil Koirala formed a 58-member committee but those close to Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday ousted Dr Lok Bahadur Mahato appointed by the former. The Koirala faction, meanwhile, has corresponded to the party’s central committee requesting for the Mahato’s reinstatement and official recognition of their panel.