Shekhar Koirala Says He Chose Unity Over Power in NC Dispute

Nepali Congress leader Dr Shekhar Koirala has said he chose a middle path to keep the party united and avoid a split during the recent internal conflict.

Speaking to party supporters in Sundarharaicha of Morang constituency No. 6 on Thursday, Koirala said he did not attend the party’s second special general convention so that he could play a positive role in protecting party unity.

He explained that at the time, one group in the party was pushing for a special convention, while another was demanding a regular convention. “I chose the middle path so that the party would not break apart,” he said.

Koirala claimed that if he had entered the convention hall, the party would have split into two factions. “If I had gone inside that hall, the party would have been divided,” he said.

He also said that attending the convention could have created a chance for him to become party president. However, he decided not to take that route because it would have caused division within the party.

Koirala is now contesting the election again from Morang-6 with a ticket signed by party president Gagan Thapa, who was elected through the special convention. He is facing CPN-UML candidate Binod Dhakal in the constituency.