Kathmandu, Feb. 20:Nepali Congress lawmakers, who demanded change of parliamentary leadership last week saying they did not have confidence on the parliamentary leader, today said the political crisis would end without any crash.
The present crisis would be solved through dialogues and would not split the party, they told an interaction.
“NC has a history of solving the problems through dialogues and it is expected to be the same this time,” said Tarini Dutta Chataut. Chataut and nine other ministers resigned on Friday, two days after 58 rebel Congress lawmakers demanded that the Prime Minister face the “no confidence” motion in the parliamentary party. The ministers said they “stepped down under moral ground since Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai’s leadership was in question”.
The status of the resignations remains unclear and the Prime Minister’s Office, where the papers should be submitted, has not confirmed their move yet.
Chataut, a Congress Central Working Committee member who was Law Minister, confirmed the resignations. “We resigned as we felt it unbecoming to remain in office after 58 lawmakers showed dissatisfaction over the leadership of the parliamentary party leader,” he said.
NC spokesperson Narahari Acharya said that the crisis would have a safe outlet. Acharya denied that difference of thinking among the lawmakers would end up in splitting the party. “NC has sustained worse blows in the past,” he said.
NC Parliamentary Party Secretary Benup Raj Prasain, who has called for the meeting tomorrow in consultation with the Congress President, said that the legal procedures of the parliamentary party would not thwart dialogues and understandings.
On whether Bhattarai would attend the parliamentary party meeting, Prasain said that he had not been informed otherwise.
However, Prime Minister’s Press Advisor on Friday told the press that the head of the government would not attend the meeting unless it was postponed at least till February 26 or 27. The Prime Minister, Nepal said, had not been consulted before fixing the date for parliamentary party meeting, which will decide the fate of the motion.
Prasain said that the meeting was slated for Monday keeping in view the works of the parliamentary committees and the ministries.
Lawmaker Mahadev Gurung, one of the 58 signatories, said that the MPs were forced to resort to signature campaign to change the leadership of the government as it had failed to address the problems of the people during the last nine months. “The government has not been able to maintain peace and security; let alone the issue of reconstruction and development,” he said.
“The nation is gripped by uncertainties,” said Gurung. “Our campaign for the change of leadership is for bringing this situation to an end. The primary issue is that of protecting democracy and not of changing the leadership,” he said.
Gurung expressed doubts that the second-generation leaders of the Congress party would be able to give the nation a safe outlet. Girija Prasad Koirala alone is the man capable to take the government leadership, he said.
Another disgruntled MP Gopal Rai toed Gurung’s line of argument. The second-generation leaders were not dynamic and charismatic enough to tackle such situations skilfully, he said.
Khem Raj Bhatta Mayalu said that lawmakers’ dissatisfaction was due to the government’s failure to fulfil its commitment of maintaining peace and security, generating employment and developing the nation. “Our dissatisfaction is not a choice but a compulsion; the nation needs a more dynamic leadership,” said Mayalu.
Ananda Dhungana said that the signature campaign was initiated keeping in view the problems of the public. Dhungana said that the present government would not be able to address people’s problems, as it suffered indecision.
The interaction was organised by the Reporters’ Club.