Kathmandu, October 4
The Nepali Congress is set to enlarge its central committee, including the number of office-bearers. The move follows suggestions from party ranks to the statute drafting committee to increase the number of office-bearers and central members.
The statute is being amended to accommodate more aspirants seeking party leadership. The leadership has come under pressure to include differing factions within the party, which is why it is adding positions.
Under the current provision, the party has 231 central members. The provision of 17 office-bearers will also be amended.
According to party sources, the amendment will make it mandatory for one of the vice presidents to be a woman. The current provision of two vice presidents will be amended to add one more.
The statute will be amended to reserve a quota for women among the vice presidents. The party also plans to create the post of senior vice president among them.
The party has not previously had a senior vice president. The post of general secretary will remain at two.
The party also plans to add the post of joint general secretary to the office-bearers.
According to top party leaders, a new provision will allow open competition for joint general secretary.
One of the leaders told Onlinekhabar, “Under the current provision, joint general secretaries are chosen based on inclusion, and the president nominates three. There has been discussion on amending this to add an open category for joint general secretary as well.”
Under the existing provision, candidates compete in eight clusters: Janajati, Madhesi, Tharu, Muslim, women, Khas Arya, backward regions and Dalit. The plan is to add an open category alongside the inclusive clusters for joint general secretary.
The party also plans to create additional central member posts. The current provision of 35 open-category members will be amended to increase the number. Leaders said how many will be added is still under discussion.
The statute amendment drafting committee, led by General Secretary Pradip Paudel, had drafted a statute under which the party president nominates 61 of the 231 central members.
That number will now increase. The drafting committee is still discussing the total once the senior vice president, joint general secretaries and central members are added.
The provisions for 21 members from among those under 35, seven chosen from professionals and intellectuals, and six chosen from the public relations committee will not be amended.
The statute prepared by the drafting committee will be presented to the party. After the Central Committee endorses it, the general convention hall will pass it.
Besides General Secretary Paudel, the statute amendment drafting committee includes Jiwan Pariyar, Ishwari Neupane and Rajiv Dhungana as members, with Pratap Paudel as member secretary.
