Himal Press 
ITAHARI: In a sign of growing internal conflict within the Nepali Congress (NC), the Dr Shekhar Koirala-led faction organized a gathering of the party’s local government committee chiefs in Biratnagar on Tuesday.
The gathering was held ahead of NC Koshi Province Committee’s general convention, scheduled for Saturday. NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba is scheduled to inaugurate the general convention.
According to a leader close to Koirala, more than 100 of the 137 local government committee presidents in Koshi Province attended the gathering.
However, the NC has not recognized the event. Krishna Prasad Paudel, Chief Secretary of NC’s Central Party Office, clarified through a letter that the party had not scheduled any events in Koshi Province before Saturday’s convention.
Deepak Chapagain, chief of NC’s Biratnagar Municipal Committee, said that Biratnagar has always risen during crises. “At a time when the party is weakening, Biratnagar is trying to send a strong message,” Chapagain said.
The two-day gathering is expected to put pressure on the party to hold its national convention on time, organize conferences for all affiliate organizations and propose Dr. Koirala as the next party president.
