Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Six senior leaders from the anti-establishment faction of the Nepali Congress (NC) have initiated preparations to form a new political party.
Leaders Purna Bahadur Khadka, Dr Shashank Koirala, Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakash Man Singh and Krishna Prasad Sitaula on Monday opened a liaison office in Chundevi of Kathmandu as part of their preparation for launching a new party.
All these leaders earlier held top positions in both the party and the government. Khadka is a former vice president and has served as a minister multiple times. Similarly, Koirala is a former general secretary, while Nidhi, Singh and Sitaula have also held ministerial portfolios on several occasions.
Three of these leaders also come from prominent political families associated with the party. Shashank Koirala is the son of party founder late BP Koirala. Similarly, Bimalendra Nidhi is the son of another founding leader late Mahendra Narayan Nidhi and Prakash Man Singh is the son of late Ganesh Man Singh.
The faction has also begun its activities for the 15th General Convention. Following the inauguration of the contact office on Monday, a meeting of the working committee elected from the 14th General Convention was held. The meeting discussed contemporary political developments and agendas related to the upcoming convention, according to Min Bishwokarma, a leader of the faction.
The faction has been expressing dissent with the new executive committee of the party elected by the party’s special convention held in January.
During the meeting, former acting party president Purna Bahadur Khadka clarified ongoing disputes regarding the ‘special general convention’ and the ‘regular general convention,’ as well as other developments surrounding these issues.
The dissident faction concluded that despite continuous efforts over the past five months by top leaders, former office-bearers, and Central Working Committee members to prevent a party split, no concrete outcome had been achieved due to the stance of the establishment faction.
Bishwokarma said that the current party leadership has failed to take any meaningful initiative toward unity. “Some of their statements have further undermined internal cohesion,” he claimed.
He added that another meeting of the Central Working Committee elected from the 14th General Convention will be held on Tuesday to prepare the schedule for the 15th General Convention. The meeting will also take necessary decisions to mark BP Memorial Day.
Bishwokarma added that the liaison office has been established to ensure the success of the 15th General Convention as a ‘unity convention’.
