KATHMANDU: Senior Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala launched a sharp attack against the party’s top leadership during Monday’s Central Committee meeting, raising serious concerns over the handling of electoral alliances, disciplinary actions, and the state of party institutions.

Koirala began by expressing gratitude to party president Sher Bahadur Deuba for his recent commitment to party unity but said he felt compelled to speak some “bitter truths.”

He called for the timely organization of the party’s 15th General Convention in Mangsir 2082 BS and demanded that the leadership offer a convincing explanation if the convention cannot be held on schedule.

He questioned the party’s shifting alliance strategy—from partnering with the Maoists during the 2079 federal and provincial elections to now sharing power with the UML.

“I supported the idea of a Congress–UML coalition, but under Congress leadership. Why did we hand over the reins to UML?” he asked, further demanding clarity on the status of the promised constitutional amendment mentioned in the seven-point agreement between the parties.

Dr. Koirala strongly criticized the functioning of the party’s Disciplinary Committee, calling it weak and biased.

He said members failed to even send formal letters to those facing disciplinary complaints and lacked the authority to conduct impartial proceedings. “Why were some only warned while others suspended for the same offense?” he asked.

He also questioned reports that party president Deuba accused him of backing rebel candidate Dinesh Koirala in Chitwan and demanded an explanation.

Pointing to electoral strategy failures, he cited the decision to allocate the Parsa-1 seat to the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, where their candidate received only 1,117 votes and came fourth, while a rebel Congress candidate garnered over 20,000 votes.

Similarly, he criticized the decision to support Upendra Yadav in Bara-2 despite calls to field a Congress candidate. “Where is Upendra Yadav today, and what’s Congress’ role in Madhesh Province?” he asked.

Koirala also raised questions about the eligibility of businessman Binod Chaudhary as a central committee member, citing party rules that require ten years of active membership.

He reminded leaders of a past incident when Sujata Koirala was barred from running for central membership due to not meeting the requirement.

He asked why a district president in Sarlahi, already convicted by the Supreme Court, still holds office and questioned the impact such decisions have on the party’s credibility.

He condemned the boycott of BP Koirala statue unveiling programs by party members in Nawalparasi and Saptari and asked whether such behavior deserved disciplinary action.

On the growing unrest within sister organizations, Koirala said ongoing protests and hunger strikes in the Nepal Student Union and Nepal Tarun Dal must be addressed immediately.

He pointed out that the Women’s Association cannot hold its convention due to unrenewed membership and internal resignations.

He also raised concern over the reported dissolution of 42 district committees of the Nepal Dalit Sangh and questioned who authorized such decisions.

Dr. Koirala ended his remarks by reaffirming that he has never engaged in factional politics and only seeks unity and reform.

“After losing in the 14th General Convention, I publicly vowed not to engage in power-sharing deals. I never opposed party decisions, but my patience is being mistaken for weakness,” he said.