The rival faction of the Nepali Congress led by Ram Chandra Poudel on Monday held a separate meeting and criticised the activities of party President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

The unofficial meeting held at Poudel’s residence in Bohoratar criticised the working styles of Deuba and PM Dahal.

During the meeting, senior party leaders expressed concerns over the NC’s official activities under Deuba, his failure to play a leading role in national politics and the uncertainty over election preparations, among others.

The faction has called a larger meeting on Tuesday to pile pressure on the party leadership, said a senior leader close to Poudel.

On Monday meeting, NC leaders accused both Dahal and Deuba of failing on both fronts—creating an environment conducive to polls, and constitution amendment.

At a time when the polls are fast approaching and the second largest party CPN-UML is activating its party organisation across the country, NC leaders seem worried that they have done little about the poll preparations. They point to the absence of institutional decision making in the party, Deuba’s failure to fill party vacancies, unpopularity of party’s ministers, and highhandedness of the party establishment in managing sister organisations were some of the issues discussed in the meeting, said an NC leader.

They also criticised the governing coalition for failing to take the Madhes-based parties into confidence for holding the elections.

The PM announced the election date but “did nothing concrete to ensure timely elections”, the NC leaders reportedly said at the meeting. Senior leaders including Prakash Man Singh, Ram Sharan Mahat, Minendra Rijal, Dilendra Badu and Ananda Dhungana expressed their concerns about the dim prospects of holding the polls on time.

They also asked the NC president to call a meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee. The faction handed over a letter to Deuba last month, calling for holding key meetings of the party to discuss pressing national issues and internal matters.