GAIGHAT: Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala has said the party is in crisis owing to the severe internal rift.

He lambasted the party leadership for doing factional politics thus affecting the entire party fold.

Speaking at a program in Gaighat today, Koirala argued that the party has been reeling under serious factionalism since the party deviated from the path shown by party founding leaders B P Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.

He warned that the party would face even more serious circumstances if the leadership paid no attention to address the problems facing the party.

BIRATNAGAR: Chief Minister of Province 1 Sherdhan Rai has said that the long overdue issue of nomenclature of the province and its capital will be finalized with the beginning of Nepali new year.

Speaking at a ceremony organized on the occasion of Krishna Prasad Sigdel Youth Journalism Award distribution in Biratnagar on Monday, Chief Minister Rai said the name of the Province and its capital would be finalized soon.

Meanwhile, Rai has hinted that he would tie the knot immediately after sorting out the long-delayed issue of nomenclature of the province and its capital.

KATHMANDU: The land of the official residence of the prime minister and chief justice is found to have been registered in the name of an individual.

Land mafias have registered 3 ropanis and 10 anas out of 34 ropanis 13 anas and 2 paisas of land where prime minister’s official residence stands is found to have been registered in the name of an individual in cahoots with a staffer of land reform office, Dilli Bazaar, Kantipur daily highlighted.

Similarly, 2 ropanis and 14 anas of land out of 14 ropanis of land belonging to the official residence of the chief justice has been registered in the name of an individual.

The panel led by former secretary Sharada Prasad Trital has found the land of official residence of prime minister and chief justice in Baluwatar to have been registered in an individual’s name.

Dr. Ram Saran Mahat, an influential leader of Nepali Congress, currently has a tight schedule — busy attending meetings and seminars besides visiting various districts to meet with district-level party leaders. Former Finance Minister Dr. Mahat talked to Khabarhub on contemporary issues, mainly on party politics. Excerpts:

Nepali Congress is reeling under severe internal rift. Party leaders are on the move as if the party’s general convention is approaching. What is the reality?

In fact, the party’s general convention had to be held within a year. However, the party president seems least bothered to convene it.  We can wait even for one year. The party statute has the provision to extend the convention by a year in case of any emergencies. However, the party leadership, mainly the party president, is looking for an excuse to extend it. Speculations are rife about the change of guard. That’s a different issue. But it is obvious that leaders, including me, to be on the move.

Party district presidents organized a meeting in Kathmandu recently. Party President was disenchanted. What is your opinion?

The meeting of the district presidents was, in fact, was an informal gathering.  And, I think, it is nothing to worry about. It’s obvious. They have been demanding implementation of the decisions endorsed by the Mahasamiti meeting. Internal democracy is obvious.

What is your stand? How do you plan to move ahead at this point of time?

See, I am not a self-centered person. I don’t believe in self-recommendation or self-praise. However, several of my friends have come to me, and suggested me to take the lead of the party because they say I have the experience, qualification and the ability to run the party. In fact, I have told them I am ready to shoulder the responsibility. And, I will be in the fray if the need arises.

NC has been alleged of being a voiceless and passive party and has failed to play the role of strong opposition. Is it that NC is losing its grounds?

In fact, allegations that the NC is losing its grip in the grass root level is baseless. There are instances of several cadres of Nepal Communist Party joining the Nepali Congress even now. In reality, the wrangling among the top leaders has upset the party cadres. This is the weakness on the part of the leadership. I agree, there are factions within the party. Party president should take the initiatives to narrow down the differences and to unite the party by rising above personal interest.

KATHMANADU: Police have arrested three leaders including chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Kamal Thapa from Padmodaya intersection in the capital on Monday afternoon.

Other arrested include Dipak Bohara and Buddhiman  Tamang.  Police took them under control after they tried to trespass the prohibited zone.

Thapa-led RPP has been demonstrating protests demanding reinstatement of Hindu State for the last few days.

Earlier, the party had launched a signature campaign to make their demand heard.

SURKHET: The Karnali State government on Saturday announced to provide Rs 10 million in relief to the storm survivors of Bara and Parsa districts.

The State Cabinet meeting today decided to provide relief assistance of Rs 10 million for the rehabilitation of victims in the storm-ravaged districts.

KATHMANDU: The meeting of the Nepali Congress central working committee scheduled for Saturday has been postponed until further notice.

The meeting was put off to allow additional discussions on a subject regarding the formation of the party central work execution committee, said NC’s spokesperson Bishwo Prakash Sharma.

BHAKTAPUR: Nepali Congress General Secretary Dr. Shashank Koirala has called for an end to the intra-party factions.

He said this while addressing a greetings exchange cum tea reception event organized by Nepali Congress Madhyapur Thimi Town Committee at local Chhwasa Tole on Saturday.

“Nobody can stop the congress from emerging as the largest party in the upcoming general election if it moved ahead united. It should not forget the trail blazed by the founding leader of the party, the late BP Koirala,” he said, adding that it was a matter of sadness the party which has adopted the policy of national reconciliation lacked conciliation within itself.

RUPANDEHI: The province 5 government has decided to provide Rs 10 million relief assistance to the storm survivors in Bara and Parsa districts.

A meeting of the State council of ministers on Friday decided to deposit the amount in the relief fund.

Similarly, the province 1 government also announced financial assistance of Rs 10 million for those people affected by the violent storm in Bara and Parsa, the districts in State 2.

A meeting of the State council of ministers on Thursday took a decision to this effect.

KATHMANDU: The Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist Leninist), CPN (ML), has expressed its objection to a circular over issuing citizenship.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had recently issued a circular to Chief District Officers in all 77 districts to provide citizenship certificate to the offspring of Nepali nationals, who have acquired citizenship certificates on the basis of birth, on the basis of descent.

A press release issued today by the party general secretary CP Mainali states that the circular issued by the Home Ministry influencing a bill related to citizenship which is under consideration of the parliament was anti-national, hence the need for withdrawing it immediately.