Nepali Congress Completes Ward Conventions in Sudurpaschim Amidst Senior Leader Absence

Kathmandu. Nepali Congress has completed ward conventions without the participation of Sher Bahadur Deuba, elected president from the 14th General Convention, and most senior leaders of the province. According to the coordinator of the Nepali Congress Sudurpaschim Province Election Committee, senior advocate Gangaram Padhya, ward conventions are yet to be held in only one ward out of the 734 wards in the province. 'It's over everywhere, only one ward in Kailali is left for elections, and that too will be completed today,' Padhya told Ratopati. Padhya stated that the convention could not be held in one ward of Mohanyal Rural Municipality in Kailali. According to him, ward committees and regional representatives have been elected unanimously in all places. 'Regional representatives and ward committees have been selected unanimously in all places,' he said. Sudurpaschim has 9 districts, 1 sub-metropolitan city, 33 municipalities, and 54 rural municipalities, totaling 88 local levels and 734 wards. However, former president Deuba, former joint general secretary Badri Pandey, and former central working committee members representing the province, NP Saud, Ramesh Lekhak, Bir Bahadur Balayar, Govinda Bahadur Shah, Naresh Bahadur Singh, Nirp Bad, Vidya Timilsina, Dr. Ran Bahadur Rawal, Ram Janam Chaudhary, and other central members have not participated. The party's Sudurpaschim Province President and former minister Bir Bahadur Balayar, Sudurpaschim Province Committee General Secretary Meghraj Khadka, and joint general secretaries Chintamani Bhatt and Gopal Bhatt also did not participate in the ward conventions. Similarly, former MP Kabiraj Pandit, former Sudurpaschim Province Chief Devraj Joshi, provincial assembly members Madhu Bharti, Gita Chaudhary, former minister and provincial assembly member Bikram Singh Dhami, former minister and provincial assembly member Shivraj Bhatt also did not participate in the convention. Similarly, former minister Bhakta Bahadur Balayar, former minister, National Assembly member and Kailali party president Narayandatta Bhatt, Kanchanpur party president and Bhimdatta Municipality Mayor Padam Bogati, Doti president Narendra Bahadur Singh, Dadeldhura former president Karna Mall, current vice-president Dilli Joshi, former minister Nar Bahadur Chand, District Coordination Committee Achham chief Lalit Kunwar, and others did not participate in the convention. Those who participated in the convention are also urging for unity in the party. Central member Ishwari Neupane has said that there is no alternative to reaching a common ground of consensus, cooperation, and unity. Neupane says, 'Congress friends are currently divided into three factions. Those who did not participate in the ward convention held on the 15th and the convention announced from the 15th, and both conventions, are all Congress members. We are not from different parties, but some unnecessary interventions have occurred contrary to democratic character. Some unpleasant incidents have happened, which are contrary to Congress's conduct and philosophy. Today, hearts are divided. There is no alternative to bringing together divided hearts and reaching a common ground of consensus, cooperation, and unity.'