Congress creates senior vice-president post for first time, to also lead policy foundation

For the first time in its history, Nepali Congress has created the post of senior vice-president, and Bishwa Prakash Sharma has been elected to it unopposed.

Under the amended statute passed by the party's 15th general convention, the senior vice-president will lead the Policy, Research and Training Foundation. Previously, a vice-president designated by the party president held that role. Under that arrangement, former president Sher Bahadur Deuba had assigned then vice-president Purna Bahadur Khadka, and president Gagan Thapa had made Sharma coordinator after the special general convention. In the committee formed from the special general convention, Sharma and Pushpa Bhusal were the two vice-presidents.

The new arrangement gives the senior vice-president the authority to chair meetings in the president's absence and to serve as acting president if so designated. The senior vice-president has also been given a coordinating role in running the central office, though day-to-day work will remain under the general secretary.

Under the earlier statute, the central office operated under the general secretaries, and then general secretaries Gagan Thapa and Sharma had called the special general convention in that capacity.

The statute provides for five vice-presidents including the senior vice-president. The other vice-presidents elected are Pushpa Bhusal, Dr. Chandra Bhandari, Madhu Acharya and Binod Chaudhary.

The coordinator of the statute amendment drafting committee was newly elected general secretary Pradeep Paudel. According to committee member Jeevan Pariyar and general secretary Uday Shamsher Rana, although the proposal has been passed, the final copy of the statute has not yet been prepared.