Rabindra Mishra: Do you agree with the NC holding multiple closed-door meetings?
Gagan Thapa: At the party’s central committee meeting today, we decided that all political discussions must be held inside the CA because it is the most legitimate democratic instrument. We also told everyone present that our leaders must not run these parallel committees, a ‘club’ of sorts where few leaders from the main parties gather and make decisions without everyone’s approval. The central committee members have presented a written proposal, which received a lot of support.
Who is ‘we’?
Except the decision-makers at the top, almost everyone else who won direct elections in the 19 November polls is involved.
Your predecessors also raised similar issues, but senior leaders didn’t take their proposals seriously.
All our friends who won the elections this time, remember the promises they made to their constituencies. We will not make the same mistake of keeping quiet if the party heads don’t listen to us.
But all your friends seem to be siding with the top brass.
I have found that the same people who used to take this matter lightly and who now have come back with a mandate no longer think of it is as a joke.
What are some party procedures that you would like to see changed immediately?
First, we must make the discussions within our party more transparent and not hide our decisions from the public. Secondly, those who have been given the responsibility to talk with other parties and discuss possible alliances, must not go around giving speeches when not a single agreement has been reached. We must not fool the public like this.
How do you envision the CA will function this time round?
After the first session of the CA, we will have to create a timeline for writing the constitution within a year. Based on this, drafting committees will be formed and within two or three months, they will present a written report to the CA. Every party may not agree with the contents of the document, so we will spend the next two months trying to iron out differences. If there are still disagreements, they will be resolved through voting.
How hopeful are you of personal success in CA-II?
Last time, we took liberties in the name of consensus. This gave us some advantage, but ultimately led us nowhere. This time, if we as MPs can prevent the political discourse from spilling outside the CA, we will have done our job.