Pokhara, Jan. 23 : Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said the 10th general convention of Nepali Congress has made the party more vigorous, united, dynamic and resolute.
Talking to RSS this morning at the Dipendra Sabha Griha, the venue of the general convention, after his election to the post of the President of Nepali Congress, President Koirala said he is always in favour of the larger interest of the party and its unity.
In reply to a query, he said he would always give priority to the party unity and vowed to make the party consolidated and dynamic, giving his colleagues equal opportunity to work.
“Nepali Congress is an organised and disciplined party and the party workers are quite gentle and firmly committed to the party principles, and the kind of unity, goodwill and cordiality seen among the party workers guides its leaders to work in close understanding, he said.
Meanwhile, former prime minister and founder leader of Nepali Congress Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said the Pokhara general convention has rebuffed the detractors of Nepali Congress, democracy and anti-national cohorts who want to see division and disunity within Nepali Congress.
Nepali Congress Party functions like a family and the mutual cordial and fraternal relationship between its leaders and workers is its special characteristic, which inspires us to be always united, he said.
Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said the party workers’ desire for a change of leadership had inspired him to stand for the party’s central presidentship in the 10th general convention. He said he heartily accepted the results of the election.
The rule of majority and respect for minority are the general principles of democracy and good deeds of minority also encourage the majority towards constructive works, Mr. Deuba said.
Though the general convention did not favour a change of leadership this time, he, for one, felt that the obtaining environment showed that the workers were in favour of a leadership change, he added.
The newly elected President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, former prime minister Bhattarai and Deuba visited the Dipendra Sabha Griha this morning also to see the counting votes polled for N. C. central committee members.
Meanwhile, newly elected Nepali Congress president and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has expressed his determination to work harder for making the party stronger and more dynamic in the days ahead by reciprocating the trust that party colleagues have reposed in him.
My responsibilities have increased after my re-election to the post of party president, said the new party president while winding up the Nepali Congress 10th general convention here today.
Bound together as we are by the ideals of democracy, nationalism and socialism, the Nepali Congress will never cease to exist if we honestly follow these ideals, he said. Frightened by the mammoth public gathering during the general convention, forces conspiring to ruin the Nepali Congress have taken to their heels, he observed.
Despite the sense of fear and terror instilled in them by the Maoists, large numbers of people participated in the general convention thereby testifying to the strength of the Nepali Congress, he said adding, this has also proved that no force can finish off this party.
Stating that the contest that took place during the general convention for election of the party leadership is a democratic exercise and it marks the beginning of a democratic tradition within the party, he said no one is a loser in a democratic exercise, rather all emerge victorious.
The electoral contest has been accepted as part of the process of handing over party leadership to a younger generation and this is also a democratic process, Prime Minister Koirala said.
He further said that the scramble for leadership among the younger generation and the party’s transition from a presidential system of leadership to a collective one through the election of 50 percent of central members including the president himself might have created some confusion in the party. But, party president Koirala added, he has found this to be quite normal and is further committed to making the party stronger and more dynamic.
Although Deuba is my pupil, I contested with him in the election for party president, he said adding, sometimes a teacher should play with his pupil to help him learn things in a simple manner. Contest with their mentors helps the younger generation learn a lot and enables them to strengthen the party, he further observed.
All sister organizations of the Nepali Congress hold up the edifice of the party organization and, therefore, efforts should be directed toward consolidating the party by accomodating them all, he said.
Former prime minister and founding leader of the Nepali Congress Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said a big party responsibility has come upon the shoulders of Girija Prasad Koirala and expressed confidence that he would move the party ahead in a balanced manner.
He also expressed hope that Girija Babu would not let any worker experience any feeling of injustice.
Ex-Prime Minister and aspirant for NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba said it is wrong to say that the party would break up and gave assurance that he would provide full cooperation to party president Koirala in maintaining good governance and law and order in the country.
The greater the success of the term of party president Koirala the brighter will be the future of the country and the people, Deuba said adding that respect towards the leaders of the party would further consolidate the party organisation.
Convenor of the general convention local main committee and NC Kaski president Sukra Raj Sharma pointed out the need to making the party progressive and revolutionary by wiping out anomalies and aberration within it.
Earlier, convenor of the NC 10th general convention central election committee Mukunda Regmi had announced the election of Girija Prasad Koirala to the post of party president.
The function was held under the chairmanship of newly elected party president Girija Prasad Koirala.
Prime Minister Koirala left for Kathmandu this afternoon.