Amid boycott from rival factions led by Ram Chandra Poudel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba appointed party’s vice president, general secretary and joint general secretary on Friday, two years after the party’s general convention.

Deuba picked his long time loyal, Bimalendra Nidhi, as party’s vice president while two other supporter of his, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Prakash Sharan Mahat, were named the general secretary and joint general secretary during the party’s Central Working Committee meeting that was briefly held on Friday afternoon.

Deuba’s decision to appoint his three loyalists was backed by NC Secretary General, Shashank Koirala considered close to the Poudel faction.

None of the elected CWC members from the rival Poudel and Sitaula factions signed the decision, said NC leaders expressing dismay over Deuba’s move. Some leaders claimed that the decision was arbitrary and against the party charter.

The statement released by the NC states: As per the Nepali Congress Charter-2017 BS and its Article no 21 ( Gha) and NC party regulation of 2068 BS-12 (1), the CWC has endorsed the name of three party leaders proposed by the party president.

Both Poudel and Sitaula boycotted the CWC meeting, and they have refused to accept the “decision taken unilaterally” by Deuba.

Only the elected CWC members were present at Friday’s meeting that was called to appoint office-bearers in key party positions.

The Poudel faction had long been maintaining that the appointments should not made until some of the provisions in the party statute are amended.

Two senior leaders from the Poudel faction, Prakash Man Singh and Mahesh Acharya were present at the meeting that hardly went for 15 minutes. ‘

The two leaders walked out after the decision was announced, said one NC leader.

 There is no logic to making appointments two years after the general convention when the party charter clearly states that such appointments should be made within two months after the general convention, both Singh and Acharya had reasoned before leaving the meeting.

Three party office-bearers—president, general secretary (elected) and treasurer— have already elected by the general convention.

Deuba commands a majority in the CWC, and with the strength of majority votes, he took the decision, said the rival leaders.  

Poudel and Sitaula are expected to hold meeting in the coming days to chart out a strategy to combat the high-handedness of Deuba in the party, said as leader from the Poudel camp.