There has been opposition within the Nepali Congress in Madhesh province after leader Bimalendra Nidhi's niece was included in the closed list of proportional representation candidates submitted by the party to the Election Commission for the upcoming House of Representatives election.
The opposition stems from allegations that Nidhi himself recommended his niece Ninu Karn and placed her at the top of the Madheshi women's category in the proportional list.
Among those voicing opposition is Jeevnath Chaudhary, former municipal president of Janakpur Congress, who criticized leader Nidhi on Facebook.
"In the last House of Representatives, respected leader Bimalendra Nidhi ji himself became a proportional lawmaker. This time, he even ensured a guaranteed ticket for his own niece Ninu Karn by having her placed at number one in the Madheshi women's category of the proportional closed list," he wrote.
He also posed questions to Nidhi via Facebook.
“My simple question to Bimal dai is: what did democracy fighters from this very region—people like Lalan Chaudhary, Prafulla Raj Ghimire, Yuvaraj Khati, Raj Kishor Singh, Ram Bharat Sah, Baidyanath Sah, Dhirendra Mohan Jha, Nirmal Chaudhary, Dev Chandra Jha, Anita Shrivastav, and Balbhadra Lal Karn—who went to jail with you, faced batons, endured torture, and dedicated their lives to democracy, receive?” he asked.
"Neither they nor their children received anything. Today, there is no leader to even inquire about the condition of their children or wives. Did the pain of those families, who are surviving without food, shelter, and clothing, not make it onto anyone’s list?” he added.
Chaudhary also argued that as there is a growing trend of top leaders using the proportional system to make their wives, sons, daughters, nephews, and nieces lawmakers, the proportional representation system itself should be abolished.
“Within the party, family ties are increasingly being seen as more important than talent, struggle, and contribution. If Nepal’s Constitution has envisioned such a proportional system, then such a system should be scrapped,” he said. “The issue here is not about individuals but the system. It is painful when relations outweigh merit, contribution, and sacrifice.”
He also quoted a statement by Nepali Congress founding leader BP Koirala.
"I want to recall Koirala's words: Workers who silently watch leadership commit wrongs are either extreme opportunists or slaves!" he wrote. "Today, the question is this—should we create history as workers, or be used and disappear from history?"
