Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party: When Will the Opposition Leader Be Selected to Participate in Constitutional Appointments?
Image source, House of Representatives
The Nepali Congress, the second largest and main opposition party in parliament, has yet to select its parliamentary party leader nearly a month after the final election results were announced.
Analysts note that the party has been indecisive in selecting the party leader, especially after prominent party figures including party chair Gagan Thapa, who was the designated prime ministerial candidate before the election, were defeated in the House of Representatives election.
The selection of the Nepali Congress’s parliamentary party leader is also significant for the government. The leader of the main opposition party in the House of Representatives is a member of the Constitutional Council tasked with recommending appointments to key constitutional positions, such as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Chief Election Commissioner.
According to the constitution, the Constitutional Council consists of the Prime Minister as chairperson, the Chief Justice, the Speaker, the Chairperson of the National Assembly, the leader of the opposition in the House of Representatives, and the Deputy Speaker ex-officio members.
Following the appointment of the Deputy Speaker from the House of Representatives last Friday, only the leader of the opposition remains to be selected as a member of this council.
When Will Congress Select Its Leader?
Image source, Nepal Photo Library
Leaders of the Nepali Congress indicate that the party is preparing to select the parliamentary party leader with the arrival of the new year.
Party spokesperson Devaraj Chalise claims that due to ongoing provincial-level programs, the party’s focus has not yet fully shifted to selecting the parliamentary party leader.
“We have tasked interested colleagues within parliament to strive for consensus and discussions are underway among them. We aim to select the leader by consensus as much as possible,” Chalise said.
“If consensus is not achievable, then according to democratic procedures, an election can also be held.”
Bhishmaraj Aangdembe and Mohan Acharya, aspirants for the Congress party leader position, have said discussions towards consensus are ongoing.
According to spokesperson Chalise, the party plans to advance the leader selection process within a few days.
“We will complete this process within two to four days,” he added.
What Are the Criteria to Become the Leader of Congress Parliamentary Party?
The Nepali Congress won 38 seats in the House of Representatives, comprising 18 directly elected members and 20 proportional representation members.
According to spokesperson Chalise, the party will not discriminate between members elected through direct elections and proportional representation when selecting the parliamentary party leader.
“Once members become parliamentarians, the constitution makes them equal at the legislative level, so division or discrimination does not make political sense. The most important aspect is the selection of members,” he added.
He also clarified that there are no criteria based on affinity to any faction or group within the party for selection.
Old Styles Persist in the Functioning of the New Congress?
Image source, Nepal Photo Library
Political analyst Puranjan Acharya, who follows the internal politics of Congress, has said that despite claims of generational change in the party through the special general convention, old practices still prevail within the Congress.
“Even though it is referred to as Congress 2.0, the party’s culture remains the same,” Acharya said.
“There is still some power struggle at the leadership level between giving the position to the new generation or the old guard.”
However, party spokesperson Chalise denied any disputes or power struggles over leader selection within the party.
“Our program is 2.0, which means modernizing and advancing the Congress with the times and in new ways. Although there has been some delay in selecting the parliamentary party leader, it does not diminish its significance.”
“Within this 2.0 framework, we are advancing the party from the grassroots to the provincial level,” he added.
Analysts further speculate that the new committee led by Gagan Thapa, which removed the old leadership in the special general convention, might be taking a careful approach in leader selection considering internal power struggles.
“Rastriya Swatantra Party, which formed the government with a huge popular mandate in opposition, needs to be taught parliamentary roles by a party like Congress, even if smaller in size,” Acharya said.
A writ challenging the legitimacy of the special general convention organized after the election is currently under Supreme Court consideration in response to dissatisfaction from a faction.
Leaders removed in the special general convention have been conducting parallel activities under the leadership of Purna Bahadur Khadka.
After Khadka issued a statement claiming himself as the party’s ‘acting chairperson,’ party leaders have warned that those involved in parallel activities could face disciplinary action.
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