The Nepali Congress may be heading towards another crisis due to the increasing conflict between Prime Minister and the party President.

If the situation is not improved, Congress may suffer a big problem. The clash may surface again after   Bhattarai returns from New York. Taking benefit of Bhattarai’s absence, the Koirala side has begun making preparation. Nepali Congress General Secretary Sushil Koirala not only strongly criticised the government’s political appointments but also called for cancellation of appointments. Congress sources say Koirala raised the question, of appointments of persons who have been labelled as corrupt by the CIAA.

Last week, Koirala called a secret meeting of some of his close aides at his residence. Those present included Jaya Prakash Ananda, Narahari Acharya, Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya and several others. Congress sources say pressure will be given to Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai after his return from the UN General Assembly.

However, the Bhattarai side also are arming themselves. The Bhattarai side even looks stronger. The Nepali Congress has an altogether 134 MPs in Upper and Lower House, and only 58 of them have signed against the government.

(Patrika, Thursday, Sept. 30)