Kathmandu. The Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) has termed the publicity spread about the illegal elections as baseless, misleading and a planned attack on the reputation of the organization.

The IPPAN has expressed serious concern over the efforts being made to defame the organization by disseminating false information regarding the formation of the federation.

Stating that all the preparations for the 24th annual general meeting and the eighth convention have been completed, IPPAN said that all the decisions taken so far have been unanimous and none of the members have even written a ‘note of dissent’ expressing their dissent.

IPPAN was established on January 18, 2001 with eight members, and currently it has 683 members. According to the organization, the election schedule has been made public as per the IPPAN statute-2078, the registration of candidacy and the publication of the final name list has been completed and the election process to proceed after the closed session has been endorsed.

According to IPPAN, the 203rd working committee meeting held on June 8, 2083 had unanimously decided to present the reason for not being able to join the FNJ and the proposal related to the amendment of the statute in the upcoming general assembly.

Prior to this, the 199th meeting held on March 18, 2002 had given the responsibility to the office-bearers to decide whether to form the federation or to attend the regular general meeting and convention as per the existing provision. A meeting of the office-bearers held on March 24, 2082 decided to hold the annual general meeting and convention as per the existing statute, concluding that the formation of the FNCCI was not possible immediately due to legal and administrative complexities.

The 200th meeting of the FNJ on April 19, 2008 had decided to hold the 24th general assembly and the eighth convention on June 12, 2008 and gave the responsibility of bringing the statute amendment proposal on issues other than FNJ to President Ganesh Karki.

The 201st meeting of the party held on May 10, 2083 endorsed the statute amendment proposal presented by Karki, according to IPPAN. As per the proposed amendment, the provision of the senior vice-chairperson automatically becoming the chairperson will be removed from the next term after the approval from the District Administration Office. A provision has been proposed that any member should have served at least one term in the working committee for the post of chairperson and any member can file candidacy for other posts. It has also proposed the structure of a 27-member working committee.

IPPAN has said that the people who participated in all these decision-making processes were responsible for the organization conducting illegal elections and the decision of the FNJ General Assembly was annulled by the Executive Committee.

“It is regrettable and objectionable that the people who participated in the decision and signed the decision are making baseless publicity in such a way as to tarnish the reputation of the organization,” reads the statement. ’

IPPAN President Ganesh Karki said that a detailed report along with the reasons for not being able to form the FNJ and the statute amendment proposal would be presented in the upcoming general meeting.

According to the organization, six candidates including one deputy general secretary and five secretaries have been elected unopposed under the election process while the election process has already begun due to the number of candidacies for other posts.

Stating that it was unfortunate that questions were raised on the legitimacy of the election even after the final list of candidates was made public, IPPAN has urged all members not to be misled.

The IPPAN has made it clear that the final decision on whether or not to join the FNJ and amend the statute would be taken through the annual general meeting.