Role Politician Spouse(s) Pratima K.C. | Alma mater Tribhuvan University Name Arjun K.C. | |
Arjun Narasingha K.C. (Nepali: अर्जुन नरसिंह केसी) (born 27 September 1947) is a Nepalese politician, belonging to the Nepali Congress and he is currently the Minister of Urban Development. He is also the member of Constituent Assembly, in Nuwakot 1. He was the Joint General Secretary of the Nepali Congress (NC) and the spokesperson of the party. Nepali Congress led the 1950 Democratic Movement which successfully ended the Rana dynasty and allowed commoners to take part in the politics. It again led a democratic movement in 1990, in partnership with leftist forces, to end monarchy and reinstate parliamentary democracy. With the 12-point agreement of 22 November 2005 it worked together with the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist to end King Gyanendra's take over of the government.
Contents
- Education
- Early Political career
- Key engagement in early career
- Democratic movement
- Current political career
- Key roles held within the Nepali Congress party
- Key involvement
- References
Education
KC holds a master's degree in Political Science from Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. Prior to becoming a full-time politician, he was a teacher in Political Science at Tribhuvan University and also practicing advocate. He was also in The Thacher School of Diplomacy in United States for a month in 1982. Mr. KC has written many articles written and published in different magazines and papers on contemporary political and social issues.
Early Political career
KC's interest in Nepalese politics started from his early school and college days when he held several positions such as General Secretary at Shanti Vidhya Griha High School 1962–1963, Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of National College Union 1963–1967, Chairperson in Association of Political Science from Tribhuwan University 1969–70, and General Secretary of the students' union from Tribhuwan University 1969–1970.
KC won a seat in the 1981 Rastriya Panchayat Election, contesting as an independent. In 1982, he was appointed Minister of State for Health in the cabinet of Surya Bahadur Thapa. He held the position until 1983. KC was also elected as a member of parliament twice in the 1991 and 1994 parliamentary elections. He was the Minister for Health, Education and Physical Planning 1995–1999.
Key engagement in early career
• International Conference on Education and Literacy, Colombo in 1980 and Macau in 1981.
• International Visitor Program sponsored by USA for a month in September 1982 in different states of America.
• Attended as health minister of Nepal World Health Organization – conference held in Geneva – 1983.
• Formal visit as a Health minister of Nepal to Czechoslovakia in 1983.
• Representative Repudiator from Nepali Congress for 10 points agreement between Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (UML)-1991.
• 89th Conference of Inter Parliamentary Union held in New Delhi 11 to 17 April 1993.
• 90th Conference of Inter Parliamentary Union held in Canberra, Australia 13 to 18 September 1993.
• General Conference on International Human Rights held in Vienna under the leadership of the then Prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala in 1994.
• Elected executive member – Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party, 1994–98.
• Attended as health minister of Nepal in World Health Organization Conference in Geneva in 1996.
• Chairman Regulation Drafting Committee, House of Representatives, 1996–1997.
• International Conference on Socialist international as a representative of Nepali Congress in Paris, France in November 1999.
Democratic movement
Mr. KC was a founding member of the Nepal Student Union in 1970–1971. He was jailed for the first time at the age of 15 while he was a student, for his democratic advocacy. Later on, Mr. KC was put to jail from his party office in Kathmandu on 17 February 2005. Mr. K.C. was detained on the suspicion of being part of a plan to hold a protest against King Gyanendra. So far, K C has served several jail terms totaling to five years and four months.
Mr. KC was the Coordinator of Kathmandu Valley on behalf of Nepali Congress in Seven Party Alliance for People's Movement against the direct and undemocratic rule of King Gyanendra of Nepal which led to 19 days strike and ultimately power was given back to the people. The ensuing 2006 movement successfully reinstated the parliament and led to the formation of the Federal Republic of Nepal. Mr KC was also the key person under the leadership of Girija Prasad Koirala to bring the Maoist to the government and to hold the Constituent Assembly election in 2008. After the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections, Nepali Congress became the second largest party in the country in terms of the number of seats in the CA.
Current political career
Mr. KC is now a senior leader and member of the central committee of the Nepali Congress party. Recently in the Nepali Congress convention Mr. KC won with the second highest number of votes. Mr. KC has stressed the importance of sustaining the democratic process, the commitment to the peace process, social awareness and inclusion of bigger role for ethnic groups and women in Nepali society. Mr. KC has also stated democratizing the party from within, the need to institutionalize the party, and the importance of working in a collective leadership. KC has also voiced concern that the Constitution drafting process should be moved ahead by concluding the Peace process.
Key roles held within the Nepali Congress party
1) Joint General Secretary of Central Working Committee.
2) Spokesperson of Central Working Committee.
3) Member of Mahasamiti and Maha Adhibeshan.
4) Chief of Department of Publicity.
5) Chief of Department of International Relations.
6) Chief of Department of Professional and Intellectual.
7) Central Member of Democratic Socialist League Convened in Varanasi.