Deuba, Jivan Pariyar engage in heated exchange of words on inclusiveness

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) Joint General Secretary Jivan Pariyar was engaged in a heated exchange of words with President Sher Bahadur Deuba regarding the lack of inclusiveness in the recent cabinet expansion.

Speaking at the party office-bearer’s meeting held at Deuba’s residence in Dhumbarahi on Wednesday, Pariyar questioned the party’s commitment to inclusiveness and said that the party has failed to implement it effectively.

According to a leader who attended the meeting, Pariyar asked Deuba whether the party would only pay lip service to inclusiveness or take concrete steps to represent marginalized groups such as Dalits, Madheshis, and backward communities in significant positions. “The party cannot achieve transformation if it continues on this path,” Pariyar said, criticizing Deuba’s ministerial recommendations.

In response, Deuba said inclusiveness will be ensured when the party gets the opportunity to lead the government. “We will create an inclusive cabinet after securing a majority in the next election. It is not possible now, and you cannot expect everything to be fulfilled when another party is leading the government,” Deuba said in the meeting, according to the leader. “There is an agreement to lead the coalition government by turns. We will have to see what can be done at that time.”

The Nepali Congress has sent eight ministers to Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s cabinet, but none of them represent Dalits, Madhesis, or backward communities. Out of the eight ministers, six are affiliated with the establishment faction led by Deuba, while the remaining two belong to the anti-establishment faction of the party.

Pariyar is known to be close to the anti-establishment faction.