Ranjita Shrestha has said that the national convention of Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP) cannot remove her as the party's chairperson.
Speaking to Setopati on Thursday, Shrestha claimed the national convention itself is illegitimate.
"Can the parliamentary party call a central committee meeting? I know Ganga Chaudhary is the parliamentary party leader. Since the parliamentary party appointed him as leader, I accepted it. I attended the federal parliamentary party meeting called by him. When he said we should leave the government, I complied," she said. "Now, the parliamentary party has apparently decided to call a central committee meeting as well. And they say a national convention is happening! How bizarre!"
She pointed out that Article 19 of the party’s statute lists 14 powers of the chairperson, stating that only the chairperson has the authority to call a national convention.
She argued that a national convention not convened by the central chairperson or their designated acting chairperson removing the chairperson is laughable and asserted that the Election Commission cannot validate such a move.
"A rumor has apparently been spread that a letter from the illegal convention removing me as chairperson has already reached the Election Commission! I also called the Election Commission and inquired," she said. "They told me no such letter has arrived and also joked that it might have gone to the Public Service Commission instead."
Shrestha, implicated in the case related to the land of Pokhara’s litchi orchard, was asked for a 24-hour clarification by the party’s disciplinary committee. Ram Lal Dagaura Tharu, a central committee member and mayor of Tikapur Municipality, chairs the disciplinary committee and is also presiding over the national convention.
Dagaura informed that the national convention decided to remove Ranjita as chairperson after she failed to furnish clarification sought by the party.
A few days ago, Ranjita had appointed Shiva Bastola as acting chairperson, citing health reasons.
"I have not acted against the statute, spirit, or intent of NUP. Anyone can read the statute. It grants the chairperson the authority to appoint three senior leaders. A year ago, I appointed Shiva Bastola as senior leader in accordance with the statute. They (Resham Chaudhary’s faction) even accused me of submerging the party of the Tikapur rebellion into Phewa Lake," she said.
The NUP’s national convention is ongoing at Sunrise Cafe in Mid-Baneshwar, Kathmandu. The convention is preparing to appoint a new chairperson. Names in discussion for the new chairperson include parliamentary party leader Ganga Chaudhary, disciplinary committee chairman Ram Lal Dagaura, and lawmaker Lalbir Chaudhary.
The meeting on Wednesday decided to send details of a new, updated 201-member working committee of the NUP to the Election Commission.
