Jagrit Rayamajhi Questions: ‘Has Vinod Chaudhary Come to Change the Reformed Nepali Congress?’

Kathmandu : Scientific Socialist Communist Party leader Jagrit Rayamajhi has criticized industrialist Vinod Chaudhary following his election as vice-president of the Nepali Congress through an inclusive quota system introduced to ensure political representation for historically marginalized communities.

In a post on Facebook, Rayamajhi questioned the purpose of the inclusive quota, expressing dissatisfaction over influential individuals benefiting from a system intended to provide opportunities to historically excluded communities.

“Vinod Chaudharys are going to change the reformed Congress! And that, too, through the inclusive quotas for Dalits, women, Madhesis and Indigenous nationalities! Alas! The same old wine in a new bottle,” Rayamajhi wrote.

The objective of the inclusive quota system is to provide opportunities to communities that have historically lacked access to political leadership. However, Chaudhary’s election through an inclusive quota has raised questions about representation for the intended communities and the implementation of the system.

Chaudhary was elected vice-president through an inclusive quota at the Nepali Congress’s 15th General Convention, securing 1,745 votes. His closest rival, Jeevan Pariyar, received 1,658 votes. Chaudhary’s rise to one of the party’s top leadership positions, surpassing leaders with long-standing political careers, has drawn criticism.

During the Panchayat era, Chaudhary maintained close relations with Queen Aishwarya, Prince Dhirendra Shah and then-prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa. After the political changes of 1990, he moved closer to the CPN-UML.

He formally entered politics through the CPN-UML in 2008 and became a proportional representation Constituent Assembly member from the party that year. He joined the Nepali Congress in 2017 and subsequently became a proportional representation lawmaker under the Madhesi quota.

At the party’s 14th General Convention in 2021, Chaudhary was elected a central committee member through the Tharu cluster. He has now advanced to the position of vice-president.

The 70-year-old industrialist has previously led the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI).