Kathmandu, 17 August
Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak has said the responsibility for uniting the party now lies with party president Gagan Kumar Thapa, warning that anything could happen if efforts are not made to bring the party together.
Lekhak made the remarks during a discussion with party leaders and cadres from Kanchanpur who had come to Kathmandu to attend the Sher Bahadur Deuba faction’s national gathering. The discussion was held at Anandabhoomi Event in New Baneshwor on Monday.
“The responsibility to bring the party together now lies with Gaganji. Anything could happen if efforts are not made to unite the party,” Lekhak said.
Lekhak said the Deuba faction had made every possible effort to unite the party but had failed to do so.
“There has been no lack of effort from our side,” he said.
According to Lekhak, former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba handed over acting responsibilities to former vice-president Purna Bahadur Khadka and also authorised him to sign documents for electoral purposes as part of efforts to keep the party united.
“There was an argument that the party could not win an election with Sher Bahadur’s signature. Was it easy to tell a party president who had won with such a large majority not to sign the tickets?” he said.
“But we asked him to give up the authority to sign in order to unite the party. He handed it over to Purna Bahadur,” Lekhak said.
Lekhak also urged party leaders and cadres from Kanchanpur to strengthen contact with members who have updated their party membership and bring them into the Deuba faction’s position.
“Strengthen contact with those who have updated their membership. Bring them to where we stand,” he said. “From today, there will be no distinction between those who have updated their membership and those who have not.”
Lekhak also asked Kanchanpur party president Padam Bogati to prepare programmes in all three constituencies of the district between Dashain and Tihar.
“If possible, organise programmes in the district between Dashain and Tihar. NP Saud and I will come together,” he said. “We will travel around all three constituencies.”
