In order to revitalize the Nepali Congress and help it regain its position as a leading political force, some vital steps are necessary.
The party doesn’t need many policy reforms. Unwavering faith in democracy, protection of the citizens’ fundamental rights, the rule of law, support for pluralism, an independent judiciary, a free press, periodic elections, a parliamentary system—these are still the NC’s main policies. The party has embraced the new dynamics of proportional representation. Because ‘democratic socialism’ is highly prone to misinterpretation by communist parties, Congress needs to establish a separate identify for itself as a proponent of a welfare economic system.
The NC has always been led by someone who respects the public mandate. Between 1950 and 1982, the party was led by BP Koirala. After that, for a decade, it was led collectively by Ganesh Man Singh, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala. From 1990 on, it was led primarily by Girija Prasad Koirala until his demise in 2010.
Girija Prasad Koirala had firm faith in the rank and file, who act as the link between the party and the people. It was because he was continuously in touch with the rank and file that he was able to prevail over other senior leaders. At present, the party leadership lacks vitality. A successful leader has to have, at a minimum, four traits—the ability to listen to others, test their ideas, analyze the ideas in context and express one’s views clearly to the public.
The party leadership has been weakened because of its inability to establish itself among the general people. These leaders will get yet another chance to correct their mistakes in the next general convention. How the party will make use of this opportunity is a matter of curiosity and concern. In a polity like ours, some influence of heredity is undeniable. But now that the country is a republic, the salience of heredity is bound to erode.
Even today, Congress is not organizationally weak. The party charter provides a good enough roadmap. But an apathetic leadership has rendered the center passive. Various departments haven’t been set up. Responsibilities haven’t been properly delegated. Because party leaders are mobilizing their supporters and well-wishers mostly from their own homes, the party office is in decline.
Until the party corrects this tendency, it cannot function well. Daily attendance of the party president and central committee members at the party office can help break factionalism. Not going to the party office and running factions from home breeds a culture of sycophancy. Such a trend must be discouraged. It not only places factions above the party but, worse, saps the morale of cadres.
Daily attendance of party president and central committee members at party office can help break factionalism
BP himself was a cerebral leader. He had expressed the need to establish think tanks during the time of the 1980 referendum. But the current Congress leadership doesn’t realize think tanks are needed, whether the party is in government or in opposition. When necessary, they invite experts and form opinions on an ad hoc basis. Think tanks of a permanent nature are the need of the hour. They help identify and correct shortcomings in the party, inspire leaders through independent views and formulate short- and long-term strategies.
Since 1990, because of the continual exercise of democratic freedoms, a sizeable middle class has evolved across the length and breadth of the country. Easy access to a passport has allowed half the population to visit foreign countries and become familiar with global trends. Moreover, the IT revolution has brought news from around the world to individual households. Now, Nepali citizens are, to varying degrees, familiar with national and global happenings. So they expect the government to deliver. And they have penalized the NC for its failure to deliver despite multiple opportunities. The party’s next general convention is looking for a leadership that can deliver on numerous fronts—political, economic, social and cultural. But that’s only possible if the party can break free from the chains of hierarchy.
Traditional parties, including Congress, haven’t been able to attract the youth. In fact, the NC leadership doesn’t even know what the new generation wants. Congress leaders, including yours truly, are IT illiterate. Without familiarity with Information Technology, it’s impossible to connect with the new generation.
The country is at a crossroads between hope and cynicism. A political party should be able to inspire hope. It’s the leadership that orients a party in a particular direction. The NC should
be able to profess commitment to good governance, quality healthcare and education, fiscal discipline, capital formation, greater investment, development and job creation. It should convey that only the NC can protect freedoms.
The state has been restructured for the first time. NC has to take ownership of the constitution and demonstrate a clear determination to implement it honestly
Radheshyam Adhikari is an NC lawmaker in the federal upper house
