NC's changing face: New outnumber old

KATHMANDU, Aug 14: Perhaps for the first time in Nepali Congress history, new faces outnumber old ones among active members, who elect the general convention representatives.

This is bound to bring change in the party, but it is too early to predict the scale and direction of the change. The NC has brought into its fold 182,033 new active members through a membership drive, while only 129,989 old members renewed their memberships.

There is also a manifold increase in the membership of women and people from marginalized groups-- Janajatis, Madhesis and Dalits.

For instance, the number of active women members rose to 51,513. The consolidated figures for Janajati, Madhesi and Dalit members is not immediately available but party insiders say the numbers are "very encouraging".

Another significant change in the grand old party is the increase in youth active members. This has already changed the composition of general convention representatives. Between 20 to 30 percent of general convention representatives are believed to be under 40.

NC, perhaps rightly, is often dubbed a party belonging to old generation leaders. Only eight of its 114 Constituent Assembly members are under 35. NC´s central working committee (CWC) is even older, with an overwhelming majority of members aged over 50.

These number are not at all reassuring when compared to the fact that 150 out of the total 238 Maoist lawmakers are below 35 years.

NC youth leader Gagan Thapa argues that the increase in youth active membership will assist change in the party and drive it towards a new direction. "Since the youths represent a new voice they will help steer the party accordingly," he added.

Because of such dominant presence of youths in the general convention, it is assumed that many youth leaders will be elected to the central committee.

But the presence of new general convention members --youths, Janajatis, Madhesis and women-- has also made the outcome of the general convention uncertain, at least regarding who will be elected party president. This in itself is a change in the NC, where the next party president was often a foregone conclusion long before the general convention took place. For instance, though different candidates challenged the late Girija Prasad Koirala during the last three elections for party president, the final outcome was never uncertain in anybody´s mind.

The NC´s 12th general convention scheduled for September 17-21 holds great significance for the party not only because this is the first convention after the merger of the NC (Democratic) with the NC back in 2008 and the demise of Girija Koirala but also because the convention will elect more new faces to a more inclusive CWC, the ultimate decision-making body of the party.

NC leaders say new faces in the CWC are very likely as a majority of the 2,880 general convention representatives directly elected at local level conventions, out of the total 3,000-plus membership, are less likely to stick to any panel - led either by Sushil Koirala or Sher Bahadur Deuba.

"The current composition of general convention representatives will affect the outcome of the convention but no one knows for sure how things are going to play out when actual voting take place," argued Thapa, adding, "A candidate vying for the post of president must be able to take in party leaders who can bring youths into his fold."

More than anything else, the 12th General Convention will also be remembered for its attempt at inclusiveness. "This is the first time the Nepali Congress has become inclusive of all population groups right from the local level convention," argued NC General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi. "This will help further democratize the party."

This inclusiveness will also be reflected at the party´s highest decision making body-- the CWC. According to the party statute as amended by the Mahasamiti meeting in Kathmandu last year, there will be a total of 85 members in the party´s CWC. Of the total 65 elected members, the statute has made provisions for electing 12 members from among women, five each from Dalits, indigenous communities and Madhesis and two from the Muslim community.

There are seven women members, including one invitee member, in the present 71-member CWC. Likewise, the number of Dalit members in the CWC is just one.

"There is greater attraction of youths from marginalized communities towards the Nepali Congress as the new provision on reservations made by the party has instilled confidence among them that they would one day make it to leadership positions," argued Radheshyam Adhikari, chief of 12th General Convention Election Committee.

NC GENERAL CONVENTION FACT SHEET

Age Group Percentage

18-35 - 28.29 %
36-65 - 54.93 %
66-80 - 4.55 %
81-above - 0.27 %
Age not known - 11.96 %

Active members
Renewed - 129,989
New - 182,033
Total - 312,022

NC CWC composition

President
General Secretary
Treasurer
25 members (elected directly by general convention)
16 members (nominated by CWC)
14 members (one each from 14 zones)
Seven women (six elected and one nominated by president)
Six dalits (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Six Aadibasi/Janajatis (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Six Madhesi (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Two Muslims (one elected and one nominated)
Total: 85 members

(N.B. Elected president will nominate vice-president, general secretary and joint general secretary from among the 25 elected CWC members andpParliamentary party leader will be ex-officio member of CWC)

Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=22201