KATHMANDU, Nov 20: Nepali Congress (NC) has yet to reach an agreement on whether to hold its 15th General Convention before or after the election scheduled for March 5, or to instead call a Special General Convention.
Despite efforts by leaders at various levels to resolve the deadlock over the general convention, no common ground has been found. Attempts made over the past week to reach an understanding have turned fruitless.
Leaders have remained firm in their respective positions. The Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting that began on October 14 had concluded the round of member statements last Thursday.
Following that, a CWC meeting has been called for Thursday at 2 PM to seek consensus. However, leaders have still not reached any agreement regarding the general convention.
NC deadlock deepens as establishment faction rejects pre-electi...
Amid increasing complications over the issue, a gathering of more than sixty members on Wednesday—including establishment faction leaders and former vice presidents Bimalendra Nidhi and Prakashman Singh, former general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula, as well as Prakash Sharan Mahat, Balkrishna Khand, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Guru Baral, Gobinda Bhattarai, and Nain Singh Mahar—reiterated their position that the regular general convention should be held by mid-May.
They concluded that the party should fully focus on the House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for March 5 and expressed dissatisfaction that the party has delayed making a decision on the matter.
Urging the leadership to immediately decide to participate in the election, they said that if consensus on holding the regular 15th General Convention cannot be reached, the party should make the decision by a majority vote.
The establishment faction leaders argued that following the Gen Z revolt, the Constitution of Nepal was distorted and the HoR was dissolved unconstitutionally. They said that protecting the Constitution and restoring the HoR through elections should be the party’s main priority at present. They claim that the leadership-change process has already begun and that new leadership will emerge from the general convention.
Meanwhile, supporters of a Special General Convention have demanded that the date and venue be announced immediately. In a press conference on Wednesday, they urged the leadership not to delay or create confusion. Stating that calling the special general convention is mandatory under the party statute, they argued that they are not merely seeking a timetable but a transformation of the party.
While the two sides remain firm in their positions, leader Shekhar Koirala has argued that the timetable for the regular general convention should be announced by mid-January. He has said this would also address the concerns of those supporting a special general convention. He has intensified consultations with leaders to reach a consensus. Apart from a consensus, Koirala has appeared opposed to a special general convention, expressing concern that it could push the party toward division.
General secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, who submitted the timetable for the regular general convention on December 31, are in favor of holding a special general convention if the regular one does not take place. Their close associates claim that they are preparing to resign from their posts if the party does not make a decision on the matter.
Meanwhile, the meeting set for Thursday, which was expected to end the deadlock and decide on party registration for the National Assembly and HoR elections, has been moved to Saturday. Leaders from both sides and other parties have been holding late-night talks to find agreement on issues, including the general convention.
