There is no denying that the Nepali Congress has played a historic role in Nepal's democratic movement. The NC leadership was prominent in all the key national movements: 1950's people's revolution, 1990's people's movement and 2006's loktantrik andolan. But this party, which even defeated the autocratic Rana regime, suffers immensely from factionalism. This started following the 1990 elections.

After BP Koirala's death, cunning, greedy and scheming politicians started to surround leaders like Ganeshman Singh, Krishna P Bhattarai and GP Koirala. Eventually, the party split in two, one faction led by GP, the other by Sher B Deuba. Leaders like Ramchandra, Taranath, Bhimbahadur, Ramsharan, Mahesh, Narhari and I went to meet Deuba, the then prime minister, to request he reunite the divided party. Deuba agreed and GP also said that he was ready to do anything for the sake of party unity. Unfortunately, all such efforts were blocked by conspirators loyal to the palace. Today, it is imperative that the NC reunites.

And it is the responsibility of the NC youth leaders who led millions of Nepalis during the loktantra movement to create this unity by transforming discord into agreement. The timing is crucial. Right now, the UML is doing all it can to impress the masses. It calls itself a communist party but wants to move with the times.

Madhab Nepal is claiming that he will fulfil every demand raised on the streets. The Maoists, who have killed, severely injured and displaced people who did not support them, are coming to talks merely for the sake of changing the constitution. The palace is still waiting for a chance to again seize power by fuelling fire among the seven parties. If it fails to reunite now, the NC will disappear for good and the entire nation will suffer. But first, GP needs his supporters to help remove the opportunists who are still trying to use him for their own vested interests.