Commentary
Just a few weeks after Nepali Congress’ 13th convention chose Sher Bahadur Deuba over rival Ramchandra Paudel for party president, the two candidates are going to face each other again. This time what is up for grabs is not just the post of the party’s leader in Parliament, but also a ticket to become the Nepali Congress’ candidate for Prime Minister.
Paudel and his supporters were demanding that Paudel be unanimously elected the party’s leader in Parliament. Leaders such as Prakashman Singh and Ram Sharan Mahat had met Deuba to urge him to let Paudel get the post.
Although Deuba could not tell them that he was in no mood to enter into a compromise with Paudel, party sources say that Deuba has made up his mind. “There is no possibility of giving the post to Ramchandra ji, Deuba will take the post by consensus, and if that is not possible through a vote,” a aide to Deuba told Onlinekhabar.
On the eve of the Nepali Congress convention, Paudel had proposed that if Deuba backed him for party president, he would back Deuba for Parliament leader.
Deuba wants to be Prime Minister
Former Prime Minister Deuba believes that he now has a golden opportunity to win the parliamentary party election, and present a strong case for change in government. Party insiders believe that if the KP Oli government can be gotten rid of, Nepali Congress can take charge and guide the country towards fresh elections.
Members of the ruling alliance, meanwhile, say that they are certain that Deuba will make an attempt to get this government in trouble after he wins the parliamentary party election.
