(Pritam Bhattarai)
Kathmandu, March 16: Two candidates vying for the topmost post of general secretary in recently concluded 13th Nepali Congress General Convention—Dr Shashanka Koirala and Gagan Thapa—were zoomed in throughout the jamboree. Speculations and curiosity found their way to every nook and cranny of the country over who would manage to secure the coveted post.
Having won seats from the both erstwhile Constituent Assembly elections, Koirala, son of NC founder BP Koirala, belongs to influential Koirala clan, which has so far dominated NC leadership. On the other hand, Thapa is no less weak player in Nepali politics either.
Thapa won a seat in second CA elections from Kathmandu and was elected as NC Central Working Committee member with highest votes in 12th NC General Convention. He is also popularly known for his progressive opinion within party and stunning speeches. He has also managed to garner support from youth in particular.
However, Thapa's defeat in the elections of the convention has raised most talked-about question whether NC fails to prioritise young generation in the decision-making level of its CWC. Thapa is considered an inspiring youth leader. Youth NC leaders said that it will be difficult to have influence of young generation in the party's policy-and-decision-making processes until youth leaders are provided with at least one position in party seven-member office bearers of the CWC.
Earlier, youth leaders like Gagan Thapa, Pradeep Poudel and Bishwa Prakash Sharma had launched a campaign to ensure at least a youth leader in the CWC office bearers so they would make influence in party-decision-making process.
Unlike in the past, in 12th NC General Convention, a large section of youth leaders were elected as CWC members. However, the party leadership did little to handle the party properly in the last six years. The late Sushil Koirala came under criticism for failing to perform well as the head of the party, while groupism and factionalism were rife. Likewise, elections to a majority of NC sister wings are yet to be held and party departments yet to get full shape.
Be it during various past people's movements including 2062-63 or time of any natural disasters, it is students and youth political leaders, who come to the forefront to shoulder the responsibility and make it a success.
It may be noted during the people's movement in 2006, youth participation helped the movement get a success and the monarchy was overthrown, establishing republic. Likewise, restoring democracy in 1990, youth also came to the forefront to make the movement a success.
However, the youth are used only as an instrument to get to power, said a NC student leader Naresh Rijal, who pursues his master's in English at Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus.
He said that young generations are not being prioritized in the NC as opposed to CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) which has given space to youth leaders in party decision-making level. Yogesh Bhattarai is UML secretary while Ghanashyam Bhusal holds the position of deputy general secretary. Both Bhattarai and Bhusal represent the youth in their party.
However, some NC leaders blame youth leaders for failing to come together on any issue and that their involvement in groupism only to secure their position is a matter of concern. "It is not age that carries out reforms in any party, but idea and policy is necessary. Rather than blaming each other, young generation should consider their weakness and come forward with a clear vision," said NC's student wing Nepal Students Union (NSU) leader UP Lamichhane.
Some however argue that old generation is hesitant to prioritise young generation in the party’s decision-making level. According to reports, Thapa fielded his candidacy for general secretary in the convention from Krishna Prasad Sitaula camp after president candidates Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Poudel denied him top positions.
Political analyst Manamohan Bhattarai, who himself is a NC leader, has a different take on the matter. He dismisses the idea of failing to giving space to youth leaders. He said that a large section of youth leaders have become CWC members and the same number of youth participated in the convention as representatives. They could make their presence felt if they come up with a noble agenda, he said.
He, however, said that old generation has sacrificed their whole life in politics and in shaping the party. So it is natural for them to claim a large portion of their share in party. RSS