Nepali Congress Leader Calls for Direct Election of Party President by Active Members

Kathmandu. Nepali Congress Lumbini Province President Amar Singh Pun has said that active members should directly elect the party president. Speaking at a press conference organized in Kathmandu on Wednesday, he expressed the view that the party's internal electoral system should be changed to arrange for the direct election of the president from ward to center by active members. Pun, who was also a candidate for the general secretary post in the 15th General Convention of the Nepali Congress, claimed that the party's current constitution makes internal competition unhealthy. He stated that there should be a system where the president is directly elected by active members, and the elected president forms the working committee based on competence and inclusivity. He emphasized the need to convene a Mahasamiti meeting after the 15th General Convention to amend the constitution. He said, 'The current provisions of the constitution do not allow unity with party colleagues and create unhealthy competition. Therefore, the president should be directly elected by active members from 6,743 wards and foreign-based public relations committees, and the president should form the working committee by balancing geography and competence. My candidacy for general secretary is to implement this.' He said that the party has seen ups and downs due to its inability to connect the political changes and historical contributions made by the Congress in the past with the new generation. He stated that the historical changes made under the leadership of BP Koirala to Sushil Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba have not been properly explained to the youth generation. He emphasized the need to move forward by connecting the new generation without displacing the old generation. He added, 'We have not been able to properly explain the history and contribution of the Congress to the youth generation. We should not bypass the old generation, but take them along with the youth and modern ideas.' Pun clarified that he had nominated himself for the post of general secretary with the objective of further strengthening inclusive representation within the party. He said that although various castes and communities participate in the Congress, he has come forward because the Magar community has not had adequate representation in the high leadership of the party.