The Nepali Congress brass came under fire from central members on Sunday over the party’s humiliating performance in the elections for key state positions after the promulgation of the new constitution.

In its first meeting since the adoption of the new charter, Central Working Committee (CWC) members refused to enter the agenda without the party’s top leadership furnishing a clarification on the party’s dismal performance first. CWC members are particularly critical of President Sushil Koirala for his decision to run for the prime minister’s post despite near certainty that he would lose.

Some CWC members, particularly those from the rival Sher Bahadur Deuba camp, are seeking Koirala’s resignation as the Parliamentary Party (PP) leader. Shankar Bhandari, a CWC member close to Deuba, sought Koirala’s resignation from the PP. “There should be fresh election for the post,” Bhandari told the meeting.

Most of the CWC members who spoke on Sunday sought explanation for the party’s strategic failure against the growing alliance between communist parties post-constitution.

“The leadership should tell the CWC and the party rank and file what went wrong,” said CWC member Purna Bahadur Khadka. He had resigned as the party’s joint general secretary protesting Koirala’s decision to be the PM candidate again.

Other leaders from Deuba camp including Gopal Man Singh, Prakash Sharan Mahat, Bal Krishna Khand and Man Bahadur Bishwokarma have criticised Koirala for weakening the party’s position in national politics.

“Even though the party had only 107 lawmakers, the NC secured the position of President during the tenure of the late Girija Prasad Koirala,” said Bishwokarma. “Now we have 207 lawmakers but lost all the plum posts. The party leadership should take responsibility for this disaster.”

Sitaula proposes convention arrangements

General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula proposed seven committees to prepare reports for the 13th General Convention. As per the proposal, party President Koirala will head the main organising committee, the vice-president leads the policy and programme committee, and Ananda Prasad Dhungana will oversee formulation of a proposal to amend the party charter. Sitaula proposes that Bal Bahadur KC will head the logistics management committee, Minendra Rijal takes care of publicity, Bhimsen Das Shrestha leads the food management committee and Narayan Koirala mobilises volunteers.

But members including Bishwokarma rejected the committee headed by Dhungana and pressed the leadership for representation of Janajatis, women, Dalits and minorities in the charter revision panel.