Nepali Congress (NC) Vice-president Bimalendra Nidhi has opined that the party will remain firmly united only if the leadership were elected in consensus by the next general convention.
He claimed that his discussions with different leaders, well-wishers and intellectuals has led him to conclude so and revealed that he has already met NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and relayed that.
"The leadership should be chosen in consensus in the 14th general convention," Nidhi said addressing a program titled Democracy Dialogue through video conferencing. "The one who is chosen in consensus should be put in leadership. Be it me or others. I am ready for choosing leadership in consensus. I won't take names, this or other."
Nidhi took only the names of Deuba and senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel in the race for leadership and did not take other names. He claimed that he reached the conclusion following discussions with around 80 leaders, well-wishers and intellectuals during the lockdown.
"The Constitution cannot be protected if the communists again win the national election. NC should take ownership of the Constitution. Leadership should be chosen in consensus in a way that the people and voters are assured," he added.
He revealed that he has briefed Deuba so during their meeting on Thursday. "That has been reported in the media. My conclusion is that leadership should be chosen in consensus."
He pointed that the task of choosing leadership in consensus while difficult is not impossible. "Everyone does the easy work. Let's do the difficult work together."
He stressed that the party should also discuss ideology when ruling CPN does not believe in pluralism and advocate communist centralism. "The current system is under threat from the ruling party and the PM. The group that does not believe in federalism, republicanism and pluralism dominate the power," he accused. "CPN believes in communist centralism and one-party system."
He proposed the party should focus on nationalism, democracy, socialism, republicanism, inclusion, mixed electoral system, secularism, non-violence and peace, and added that the party should not waver on that. "We should unite on the basis of ideology rather than individuals. It will be long-lasting if we come together over ideology."
He also suggested NC to conduct dialogue with the people.
