Kathmandu, Nov.13: As the ruling Nepali Congress dominated by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala goes ahead with controversial village and district elections ahead of the party’s convention in January, Sher Bahadur Deuba Sunday said Koirala flouted party regulations by expelling 16 persons from the organization last week.
Sixteen persons, including Saptari district president Dinesh Yadav, were expelled from the party last week on orders of the Prime Minister after a brawl between rival factions injuring an election observer. ” A faction has again shown its undemocratic character by expelling 16 persons of the party without the disciplinary committee seeking clarification as specified in the party constitution,” the former Prime Minister said in a statement.
” I again ask party President Girija Prasad Koirala to honour party decisions and to maintain the democratic and clean image of the party,” Deuba said. Deuba, who is trying to wrest the presidency from Koirala is January, also accused Koirala of rejecting his and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai’s suggestion that village and district elections only be held after rectification of the list of active members.
Koirala critics accuse the Prime Minister and his coterie of manipulating the list to influence the January elections– a charge denied by the government head. Meanwhile, Koirala was elected to the party general convention from Rangeli village in Morang district Sunday. Besides Koirala and Deuba, Shailja Acharya has also announced her candidacy for the presidency.