Nepali Congress seeks clarification from ministers; expels rebel candidates of CA polls; proposes 16 states for new Nepal

Nepali Congress (NC) has decided to seek clarification from ministers representing the party in the UML-led coalition for not being accountable to the party.

A Central Committee (CC) meeting of the party held Thursday decided to call the ministers in Friday’s meeting to seek clarification after some CC members refused to enter the next agenda without such decision.

CC members including Govind Raj Joshi, Bal Bahdur KC alleged the ministers of making political appointments at their discretion without consulting the party, not being accountable towards party CC and tarnishing the image of the party.

The CC meeting on Thursday also decided to expel at least 26 leaders from general membership for betraying the party during the Constituent Assembly elections last year.

The decision was taken based on a report tabled by a committee led by Chiranjivi Wagle formed to review and probe on the complaints on the CA polls last year.

Action has been taken against rebel candidates of the party, their proposers and supporters.

Meanwhile, a sub-committee led by Gopal Man Shrestha has submitted its revised report on state restructuring with a proposal to carve out 16 states.

CC had directed the sub-committee to revise its proposal following after many CC members criticized its earlier report which had proposed two alternatives with either five or seven states stretching north-south.

The new proposal suggests five states in the southern plains and 11 in the hilly and mountainous region. Three to seven districts have been included in each state.

The party will discuss the report on Friday.