Nearly 3,100 general convention representatives have already arrived in Kathmandu from across the country and from abroad to take part in the five-day jamboree. [break]Of the representatives, 2,880 are directly elected from 240 electoral constituencies and remaining others are from sister organizations and liaison committees of the party in various countries.
According to Krishna Prasad Sitaula, the chief of publicity department of the NC´s 12th General Convention, NC is holding an inaugural session of the general convention at Tundikhel, Kathmandu, at 2 pm.
Though the general convention representatives will hold debate and pass party´s future plans and policies, the highlight of the convention is voting on September 5 that will elect a new leadership.
The 12th general convention holds greater significance for the NC mainly because this is the first general convention of the party after its unification with Nepali Congress (Democratic) in April, 2008. The convention is significant also because it will officially transfer party´s top leadership to the second generation leaders.
NC Acting President Sushil Koirala, senior leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba and Bhim Bahadur Tamang are in the race for the post of party president. While Koirala has picked Prakash Man Singh and Padma Narayan Chaudhari as his "running mates" for the post of general secretary and treasurer, respectively, Deuba panel candidates for general secretary and treasurer are Bimalendra Nidhi and Chitra Lekha Yadav, respectively. Tamang has picked Narahari Acharya as his ´running mate´ for the post of general secretary.
The general convention is likely to be a tight contest between Koirala and Deuba panels. In almost all past general conventions, the choice of new leadership used to be a foregone conclusion but not this time. The election result can go either way.
It is believed that the convention will change the face of the country´s grand old party as it has made provision to ensure representation of marginalized communities including dalit, Janajati, Madhesi and Muslim in the party´s central-level decision making body. The party has guaranteed representation of at least 13 women in the 85-member CWC of the party.
NC past general conventions
1st Calcutta 2003 BS
2nd Calcutta 2004 BS
3rd Banaras 2005 BS
4th Calcutta 2005 BS
5th Janakpur 2006 BS
6th Birgunj 2012 BS
Special convention Biratnagar 2014 BS
7th Kathmandu 2017 BS
8th Jhapa 2048 BS
9th Kathmandu 2053 BS
10th Pokhara 2057 BS
11th Kathmandu 2062 BS
NC Active members
Renewed - 129,989
New - 182,033
Total - 312,022
NC CWC composition
President
Vice President (nominated)
Two General Secretaries (One nominated)
Treasurer
25 members (elected directly by general convention)
16 members (nominated by CWC)
14 members (one each from 14 zones)
Seven women (six elected and one nominated by president)
Six dalits (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Six Aadibasi/Janajatis (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Six Madhesi (five including two women elected and one nominated)
Two Muslims (one elected and one nominated)
Total: 85 members
(NB: Elected president will nominate vice-president, general secretary and joint general secretary from among the 25 elected CWC members and parliamentary party leader will be ex-officio member of CWC)
Kishunji snubs NC´s invite
Nepali Congress (NC) founding leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has snubbed the invitation of the party for the 12th general convention that is scheduled to begin from Friday. In a letter sent to the party´s Acting President Sushil Koirala, Bhattarai vented his anger against the party´s decision to go for republican setup. While thanking for the invitation, Bhattarai said the party trampled the values upheld by late BP Koirala and Ganesh Man Singh. "I want to inform you through this letter that I have felt that it would be pointless to attend this artificial and meaningless institution," he said in the letter.
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