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KATHMANDU: As the Nepali Congress (NC) moves closer to its 15th general convention, debates have intensified within the party over whether to hold a regular convention as scheduled or to call a special one instead.
The internal debate gained momentum after General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma launched a signature campaign in favor of a special general convention. Meanwhile, the party leadership and the anti-establishment faction led by Dr Shekhar Koirala have insisted on holding the regular convention within the deadline prescribed by the party statute.
Leaders from the establishment camp say they have taken the signature campaign in a positive light. “We have taken the campaign positively. It is meant to ensure that the convention is held on time, not to split the party,” said NC Publicity Department Chief Min Bishwakarma.
The ongoing Central Working Committee meeting has yet to discuss the timetable for the 15th general convention.
Among the proposals submitted by General Secretary Thapa in Thursday’s meeting was one calling for the approval of the convention schedule. According to party leaders, the meeting will deliberate on Thapa’s proposal before deciding on the date and timetable for the general convention.
“I am hopeful that General Secretary Thapa will bring a proposal to hold the general convention by mid-December,” Dr Koirala said.
With party President Sher Bahadur Deuba no longer involved in active politics, Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka and General Secretaries Thapa and Sharma are under pressure to hold the convention by December.
The meeting, which began two days ago, will be adjourned from Sunday for the Tihar and Chhath celebrations. According to some Central Working Committee members, this delay, coupled with the extended speaking time for each member—now 10 to 11 minutes instead of the usual 3 to 4—will make it nearly impossible to hold the convention by mid-December.
Bishwakarma, however, rejected such claims, saying that speakers were given more time so that they could air their views on the changed political context after the Gen Z movement, not to delay the convention. He added that the Central Working Committee meeting, which will resume in late October, will formally decide the convention date.
While dissenting members doubt there will be enough time for full preparations, Bishwakarma maintained that internal work is already underway and assured that the convention will be held by late December.
