KATHMANDU, Nov 3: The Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the Nepali Congress (NC) has been repeatedly postponed amid deepening disagreements over the date for the party’s 15th General Convention.
The CWC meeting, which began on October 14, has been repeatedly postponed as leaders struggle to reach consensus. Rather than resolving differences, discussions have become increasingly contentious. General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa maintains that it is not feasible to hold a regular general convention by mid-December and insists that, if necessary, a special convention must be organised.
Thapa and his allies are preparing to table a proposal in the CWC to hold a general convention—regular or special—by mid-December with a detailed schedule. However, a majority of leaders oppose the idea of a special convention.
Leaders opposing Thapa argue that the delay in preparations is due to inadequate work by the general secretaries. They stress the need to expedite preparations for the convention, while prioritising the House of Representatives (HoR) elections set for March 5.
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The establishment faction favours holding the general convention after the elections, whereas leaders aligned with Dr Shekhar Koirala are open to convening it between mid-December and mid-January, with flexibility to postpone it until after the polls if required.
Dr Koirala and his allies have voiced dissatisfaction over what they describe as year-long delays in preparations for a regular convention. Some leaders who previously pushed for a mid-December deadline have since adopted a more flexible position as internal disputes escalate.
General Secretary Thapa continues to push for a special convention if a regular one cannot be held within the deadline. Supporting him, General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma initially proposed holding the convention in the fourth week of November, but no agreement could be reached. Sharma later suggested consulting Mahasamiti members, though party leaders remain unwilling to take that step.
As per party statutes, a Mahasamiti meeting must be held annually except in a convention year. Yet, in the four years since the 14th General Convention, the NC has held only one Mahasamiti meeting— in February 2024. Decisions from that meeting remain unimplemented, and some central leaders have been accused of sidelining Mahasamiti members and fuelling factional disputes.
More than 54 percent of delegates for the 15th General Convention have signed a petition demanding a special convention if a regular one cannot be held by mid-December. With no consensus, CWC members and general secretaries are drafting separate proposals—one advocating a special convention in Mangsir and the other proposing a regular convention either before or after the elections.
The faction pushing for a special convention organised a gathering on Tuesday to exert pressure, while young party members reportedly staged a sit-in at the central office. As internal rifts deepen and both groups attempt to outmanoeuvre each other, the CWC meeting—initially postponed to Sunday—has now been rescheduled for Tuesday.
During the upcoming meeting, leaders are expected to propose holding the convention in Poush. However, some leaders argue that with national elections set for March 5 and current organisational realities, a convention by then is unrealistic. They suggest postponing it to April or May.
NC CWC member Ram Hari Khatiwada warned that the dispute over the convention date has damaged the party’s image. He said the public expects unity from the NC, adding, “This prolonged dispute risks creating the impression among party members that the previous leadership was more effective.”
