National
Congress deploys six teams for feedback on draft charter
The main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) has started receiving feedback and suggestions on the party’s draft charter from Monday that is expected to be completed in six days.The main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) has started receiving feedback and suggestions on the party’s draft charter from Monday that is expected to be completed in six days.
The NC Central Working Committee (CWC) had formed a panel headed by party General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka to draft the new party charter.
After including feedback and suggestions from all seven provinces, the charter will be presented at the upcoming Mahasamiti meeting.
The panel has deployed six teams across the country and one at party headquarters in Sanepa, Lalitpur. The teams will take feedback and suggestions so that party leaders at all levels and cadre would take ownership of the new party charter, said Khadka.
On Monday, three NC teams took suggestions and feedback of the draft charter prepared by the Khadka panel in Ilam, party headquarters, Sanepa and Surkhet. The Khadka-led committee has prepared a new draft of 12 pages. Its key point proposes more powers to the party president.
The draft proposal recommends holding elections for the party president and nine office bearer positions- three vice presidents, two secretary-generals, one treasurer and three joint secretary-generals. The party president would nominate candidates for all nine positions.
At present, party president only nominates party’s vice president, one secretary-general and one joint secretary-general on the recommendation and approval from party CWC. The president also nominates additional 21 CWC members.
The second alternative proposes holding elections for the seven posts and the party president appoints the other three posts.
The third alternative proposes holding elections for all posts, including the ten office bearers’ posts and members of the central working committee. The new proposal recommends increasing the strength of the CWC from 85 to 133 members.
The Khadka-led panel also proposes four different party memberships—general, active, honorary and special. At present, NC has only two general and active membership provisions. To become the party member, one should be above 18 years, according to the new draft proposal.
The panel also proposes eight different kinds of party organisations from booth level to party CWC as per the new federal set up. The new draft also proposes various kinds of provisions for party membership, engagements of leaders as different party functionaries. District level NC party leaders, members of the party’s sister organisations and well-wishers can provide the suggestions to the respective team.
“For the first time in the history of Nepali Congress, we have set a participatory approach to take feedback on party’s charter. This would definitely give a sense of ownership to members,” said Khadka.
Speaking at an event held at the party headquarters on Monday to receive feedback on the draft charter, party President Sher Bahadur Deuba told party leaders and cadres to oppose and foil the authoritarian rule of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli government that is increasing every day and becoming more unpopular.
He also instructed the party leaders and carders to obey party rules and urged them to prepare the new draft as per the new constitution.
“The nation needs a strong Nepali Congress party. The constitution, which is the best, was promulgated only after Nepali Congress took the lead so our charter also should be the best,” said Deuba.