KATHMANDU: The Mashasamiti meeting of the Nepali Congress (NC), which was extended by a day, concluded here this evening, endorsing a provision to elect 75 per cent members in the 85-member Central Committee (CC). The party president will now have the right to recommend three office-bearers — vice president, general secretary and joint general secretary — and nominate 21 CC members from the Mahasamiti. The CC has six officer-bearers, including the president. The new provision will come into effect from March when the party’s next General Convention (GC) is scheduled to be held. The convention will elect 61 CC members and three office-bearers. This arrangement was put in place following a majority of Mahasamiti members’ dissatisfaction over the existing presidential model. The proposal was ratified by a voice vote.
Earlier this afternoon, senior party leaders — Sher Bahadur Deuba, Sushil Koirala and Ram Chandra Paudel — went to president Girija Prasad Koirala’s private residence in Maharajgunj to apprise him of the new provision. Koirala had suggested to his colleagues not to weaken the post of the president since the country was facing a political crisis. The party president and his cousin Sushil was in favour of the presidential system. While, Paudel rooted for election, Deuba remained non-committal. Discussions were held till 7.30 this evening to forge a consensus. Going by the latest development, the president’s power has been curbed to a great extent. Earlier, the president could nominate 50 per cent CC members and all the office-bearers.
Earlier this afternoon, senior party leaders — Sher Bahadur Deuba, Sushil Koirala and Ram Chandra Paudel — went to president Girija Prasad Koirala’s private residence in Maharajgunj to apprise him of the new provision. Koirala had suggested to his colleagues not to weaken the post of the president since the country was facing a political crisis. The party president and his cousin Sushil was in favour of the presidential system. While, Paudel rooted for election, Deuba remained non-committal. Discussions were held till 7.30 this evening to forge a consensus. Going by the latest development, the president’s power has been curbed to a great extent. Earlier, the president could nominate 50 per cent CC members and all the office-bearers.
“It’s an ‘institutionalised’ system, where the party’s working committee will be accountable for its decisions, and the president will lead the team,” said Krishna Prasad Sitaula. While, a section of leaders dubbed the party’s new structure as a step towards a ‘semi-collective leadership system’. Arjun Narsingh KC, spokesperson, NC, hailed the “significant transformation of the party’s organisational structure”. He felt that it would help the NC’s internal democracy, making it more inclusive. A similar pattern will be followed while forming the NC’s district and village-level working committees. This will come into effect before March. The revised statute has also increased the number of Mahasamiti members and GC representatives. Each constituency will now have five Mahasamiti members, including at least one woman, and 12 GC representatives.
New central committee structure
President 1 Elected
Vice-President 1 Nominated
General Secretary 2 Elected 1/ Nominated 1
Joint General Secretary 1 Nominated
Treasurer 1 Elected
CC members 25 (open competition) Elected
CC members 14 (from each zone) Elected
CC members 6 (woman) Elected
CC members 5 (Dalit) Elected
CC members 5 (Madhesi) Elected
CC members 5 (Indigenous nationalities) Elected
CC members 1 (Muslim) Elected
CC members 16 Nominated
CC members 5 (Woman, Dalit, Nominated Indigenous nationality, Madhesi, Muslim)
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