Shekhar Koirala slams party leadership of incompetence

Nepali Congress central committee member Dr Shekhar Koirala has said the party has not lived up to its role as the main opposition party. He said so while addressing a press meet organised by Nepal Press Union here today.

"The party has not played its role strongly as the main opposition party both in the parliament and from the street," he said, adding that the party has failed to voice against major issues as the security printing press scam and the wide-body aircraft purchase scam.

Stating it might be OK for the ruling party to stay mum on these issues, he said,"In such context the main opposition party should raise such issues vociferously in the parliament. But the opposition party’s voice too has not been heard and this is a matter of great concern in democracy."

Leader Koirala also lamented that they have not been able to put their views regarding addressing the party’s problems as the party leadership has not called the meeting of the central committee for long.

"It is within the central committee that the party’s issues are discussed. The central committee meeting has not been held for long. Where do we put our views?" he said. As he said, the Nepali Congress is now entwined in the politics of ‘power-sharing’ within itself.

Asked whether he would contest the election for the post of party president in the upcoming party general convention, leader Koirala said, "We should understand that my legs are not straw legs. I cannot specifically say about this now. I am presently trying to gauge the party cadres’ mentality and what they want."