Even two weeks after the election to the House of Representatives, the main opposition Nepali Congress has not been able to choose a parliamentary party leader. Since the leader of the opposition party is a member of the Constitutional Council and receives services similar to those of the Deputy Speaker, there is a 'tug of war' among the old leaders to become the party leader.

From Arjun Narsingh KC to the party's then joint general secretary Bhishma Angdambe, Mohan Acharya and Bharat Bahadur Khadka, the party's office bearers are trying to build consensus in the name of Angdambe. Even though there is an agreement on the establishment side, there is still a possibility that someone from the former president Sher Bahadur Deuba's side can be put forward.

However, Congress President Gagan Thapa is not keen on making 78-year-old KC the parliamentary party leader. KC is related to Thapa's 'father-in-law'. Thapa has been facing criticism ever since the name of 'father-in-law' was included in the proportional list. KC is the only member of the party and is the oldest member of parliament. Most of his contemporaries and leaders of similar age are not present in the parliament this time.

Since no party official has won the election, KC has been demanding that he himself become the leader of the parliamentary party based on political sacrifice and experience. However, party officials met with Chairman Thapa on Tuesday, saying that making KC the leader of the parliamentary party could lead to strong criticism against him and the civil society. 

KC, who has been contesting elections since the Panchayat period in 2038 BS and has been a minister for five times, was heavily criticized by the party leadership for being made an MP against the spirit of proportional representation. Therefore, Chairman Thapa sent officials to give a message to KC to back down. Vice President Pushpa Bhusal, General Secretaries Padip Poudel, Gururaj Ghimire and Spokesperson Devraj Chalise were among those who went to meet KC.

General Secretary Poudel also confirmed that KC was asked to drop his claim unless there is a consensus with the other party. "If the other party accepts your name and there is a consensus, there is no objection to it. However, if it is not possible, we have asked you to give up your claim and cooperate," Poudel said. "Even if there is a possibility that there will be no consensus, we will announce the election committee and start the process on Thursday."

However, during the meeting, KC expressed dissatisfaction, saying that it was an act of devaluing his political sacrifice and struggle by linking Chairman Gagan's 'father-in-law' relationship. "If you are trying to destroy my political identity by linking family ties and making a statement that I am Gagan Thapa's father-in-law, I have clearly said that I will not accept it," KC told Kantipur. "If it is for consensus, then I have only made a claim. We can move forward by reaching a consensus."

KC claimed that he got the opportunity not because of Gagan Thapa, but because of his own political contribution and ability. He recounted the incident when then-President Girija Prasad Koirala made his niece Shailaja Acharya the Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister in the government when he was the President. Similarly, KC recalled the incident when President Girija Prasad made Sushil Koirala the Acting President. ‘The opportunity that my niece and Sushil Koirala got was not because of their relationship, but because of their political contributions and struggles. I also did not get the opportunity by being Gagan’s father-in-law,’ KC said. ‘An attempt has been made to do injustice to me by linking my long history with Gagan’s father-in-law. I cannot accept this.’ 

However, an official said that the entire Central Working Committee was in favor of KC not claiming to be the party leader when the party was going through a difficult situation, which would have put the President in trouble. ‘He should not claim it himself, knowing where the sentiment and psychology of the society is heading,’ said another official. ‘The problem arose because Arjundai did not give up easily.’ 

In the absence of consensus, preparations have also been made to select the party leader through elections. An election committee has been formed under the leadership of Joint General Secretary Prakash Rasaili and includes Muna Bhusal and Raju Katuwal. President Thapa himself is trying to make Bhishma Angdambe, who was in favor of the then President Sher Bahadur Deuba, the party leader.

If KC hits a ‘dead end’, the second option to directly elect the party leader rather than through proportional representation is the choice of Mohan Acharya Thapa, an elected MP from Rasuwa. Although Angdambe was in favor of the then President Deuba, he has recently joined the central working committee that came out of the special general convention. The party had given Angdambe the responsibility of addressing the first meeting of parliament. In that process, he had given the message that the Congress has changed under Thapa's leadership from the rostrum of the parliament.

'My claim is that and I don't know who the party will make,' he said, 'The leaders are engaged in discussions to reach a consensus. Let's hope it will be resolved soon.' While the tug-of-war between the old leaders for the parliamentary party leader is going on, 'lobbying' has also started for that, saying that the youth should be given an opportunity. When 36-year-old Prime Minister Balendra Shah is running the country and the youth have a majority representation in the parliament, the party's young leaders and cadres have started arguing why the Congress should not give an opportunity to the youth.