KATHMANDU, Oct 17: Nepali Congress (NC) leaders have said that the party’s regular general convention can be held by mid-December. Following the political changes triggered by the ‘Gen-Z Movement,’ General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, along with other leaders, launched a signature campaign demanding a special general convention, arguing that the party cannot go into the next election under the leadership of Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Signatures collected from across the country were submitted to Acting Party President Purna Bahadur Khadka on Wednesday. In the Central Committee meeting held the next day, several leaders stressed that since parties such as the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) have already announced their conventions, the NC should also hold its regular general convention by mid-December.
To intensify pressure on President Deuba, the general secretaries and other leaders initiated the signature campaign. However, before responding to it, Deuba announced on Tuesday that he was delegating authority to Acting President Khadka, citing health reasons. As a result, pressure has now mounted on office bearers—especially those advocating for a special general convention and leadership change—to hold the regular convention by mid-December.
At the outset of Thursday’s meeting, Acting President Khadka said the party should now focus on preparing for the regular general convention rather than a special one. Although he did not specify a date, a leader present at the meeting said Khadka argued that a special convention is no longer necessary.
Pressure mounts within NC to hold general convention soon
Leader Shekhar Koirala presented a seven-point proposal at the meeting, claiming that it is possible to hold the regular convention by mid-December. He noted that other political parties are also preparing for their conventions by that time and urged party officials to begin preparations accordingly.
“Other parties are already working toward holding their conventions in mid-December, so why can’t we?” Koirala asked. “If we truly want to make Congress a party of new direction and new possibilities, we must hold our general convention in mid-December.”
Koirala had already expressed dissatisfaction in the central committee meeting held in July, accusing office bearers of failing to make necessary preparations for the convention. He had also urged them to finalize the renewal and registration of active memberships immediately.
The July 2024 meeting formed a committee under General Secretary Thapa to finalize active memberships. The committee extended its deadline several times and has now set the final deadline for the end of mid-October.
However, sources say that with the deadline approaching, only about half of the 950,000 active memberships have been renewed so far. “The signature campaign has generated fresh energy within the party,” Koirala said, adding that “this energy must be channeled through a timely and regular general convention.”
Emphasizing national integrity, sovereignty, and independence, Koirala said the Congress must remain focused on protecting Nepal’s unity amid the current political turbulence in South Asia. He reminded that the constitution—drafted in line with the aspirations of the Nepali people through the Constituent Assembly—has once again come under public scrutiny.
Embracing the emotional and forward-looking message expressed by President Deuba, Koirala argued that safeguarding Nepal’s integrity, sovereignty, and independence should remain at the core of the country’s engagement with South Asian nations. He noted that Nepal has not remained untouched by the upheavals in Asian and global politics, reminding that the current constitution—drafted in line with the people’s aspirations—has again come under public debate.
Stating that there is no alternative to going to the polls for the protection of the constitution, he said, “The only way to lead Nepal toward a united and future-oriented campaign is to ensure the participation of all Nepalis in the announced elections.”
Koirala also argued that the party must reflect on its failure to heed citizens’ voices, which has led to the current situation. “The Nepali Congress must reestablish itself as a party that carries the moral strength and energy of both the youth and experienced generations,” he said. “I firmly believe we can achieve this through the regular general convention.”
While Koirala and most leaders support holding the regular convention soon, those close to President Deuba have insisted that preparations should focus on the national elections scheduled for March 2025 and that the convention should be held only afterwards.
General Secretaries Thapa and Sharma had earlier supported a special convention, but given the changing circumstances and growing pressure, they now support holding a regular convention by mid-December, failing which they favor a special one. Thursday’s central committee meeting of the NC focused on these issues, with leaders Shekhar Koirala, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, Debendra Raj Kandel, Shiva Prasad Humagain, Rajib Koirala, Guru Baral, and Nripa Bahadur Oad expressing their views.
