Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) leader and member of the House of Representatives, Rajendra Bajgain, has accused former party general secretary and lawmaker Shashank Koirala of being involved in the open buying and selling of political positions.
Bajgain made the accusation on his social media page after Koirala stated that Bajgain, who has been demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over a visa scam, should be asked for clarification.
“I wish I didn’t have to question the SUV gifts (one Kia, two Mahindras), gold Rolexes, cash-filled duffle bags, so-called house renovations, or the trading of political positions! ‘You will inevitably be asked for an explanation’,” Bajgain wrote in a post on the social media platform X. He also included a photograph showing Shashank taking delivery of a car in front of a Mahindra showroom.
The visa scam has raised questions about Home Minister Lekhak’s integrity after Home Ministry Joint Secretary Tirtharaj Bhattarai was implicated in the investigation. The issue has also impacted internal party dynamics, leading to accusations and counter-accusations among leaders.
NC leader Shekhar Koirala was the first to demand that Home Minister Lekhak resign to pave the way for an investigation. Bajgain and another NC leader and lawmaker, Dr. Sunil Sharma, supported Shekhar’s call for the Home Minister’s resignation.
Meanwhile, a meeting of NC’s office-bearers held on Monday concluded that there was no need for Lekhak to step down.
