The ongoing central working committee meeting of the Nepali Congress continued deliberating on the performance of its ministers in the Pushpa Kamal Dahal Cabinet. Speakers also voiced reservations over alleged plans to elect the party’s old faces to the National Assembly.

Over 40 members of the central working committee including three chiefs of the party’s provincial units had spoken at Friday's meeting.

Notably, Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala was absent at Friday’s meeting. He had skipped the meeting on Thursday as well. Koirala, who is currently in eastern Nepal, told the Post that he was busy with various events and functions of the party including the inauguration of the party’s district committee and a new party building, among other things.

Koirala, who is seeking the position of senior leader after party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, wants the central working committee meeting to make an official decision on the matter, but other leaders said such a decision is unlikely. The meeting will conclude on Saturday.

“I will attend the meeting,” Koirala told the Post, adding, “These events and functions in the districts are equally important.”

If Koirala misses the meeting on Saturday also, it shows his dissatisfaction with the protocol-related issues, a leader said.

At Friday’s meeting, some central working committee members including Ram Hari Khatiwada dismissed Koirala’s claim for seniority.

Party’s vice president and deputy prime minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, who is close to party president Deuba, has been eying the second position.

Koirala has been claiming that he should be named senior party leader after Deuba because he contested the election against Deuba in the last 14th general convention of the party.

“Contesting elections for party president does not qualify Koirala to become the senior leader after Deuba,” said Khatiwada.

The issue of who will be senior leader after the party president has been a bone of contention inside Nepali Congress for a long time.

“Not all leaders who contested the election for party president but were defeated get the title of ‘senior leader,’” said Min Bishwakarma, head of the party's publicity department, adding,
Therefore, Koirala’s claim is not that valid.”

On the second day of the meeting, party chief Deuba allocated five minutes for each central committee member to speak.

Five Congress ministers had presented their report cards in the meeting.

Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, while highlighting the achievements of his term, stated how the economy was in a bad shape when he assumed the office of finance minister.

“Today the economy is in good shape as some indicators are really positive,” Mahat said.

Former chairman of the National Planning Commission Govinda Pokhrel had given a written response about the country's economy, the state of macroeconomic outlook of the country, the status of ongoing reconstruction in western Nepal, and gave suggestions to the finance minister to improve the overall state of the economy.

Foreign Minister NP Saud also presented a long list of the country's external engagements, results of incoming and outgoing visits, improvement of Nepal’s relations with India, China, and others. He also said some important initiatives will be taken in the future.

Health Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet had already presented his report card on Thursday. The remaining three Nepali Congress ministers will present their report cards on the last day of the meeting on Saturday.

“This time the meeting will assess the performance of ministers and will suggest to the party leadership to create criteria for recommending the party’s candidates for the upper house,” said Koirala.

“I have been saying that the country's situation has become grave, and merely changing ministers is not going to bring any changes. So the time has come to replace this government and the prime minister. Until and unless we have a new government and new prime minister, public frustration and anger will only grow,” said Koirala.

Despite criticism from the party leaders, Nepali Congress is not in the mood to replace its ministers immediately.

A leader of the party said Congress plans to change its ministers in February after consulting the prime minister.

Amid criticism of the party’s performance from leaders, the meeting is expected to give suggestions to the government to improve its work approach. “The meeting will give suggestions to the ministers and government,” said Bishowkarma.

Party leaders are strongly demanding the top brass to set up criteria before the party recommends its candidates for upper house, said Bishowkarma. “The central committee meeting is likely to issue a directive to the party’s office bearers or form a committee to suggest such criteria.”

Ajay Babu Siwakoti said that the Nepali Congress should find reasons why youths are disconnected from the party.

“This meeting should focus on finding the answer to who is instigating the youths against the federal republic and democratic Nepal,” Shiwakoti said at the meeting on Friday.

Another member Madhu Acharya challenged the ministers to show one exemplary work that the party can take pride in.