Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Four different proposals have now been presented at the ongoing Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the Nepali Congress for the upcoming general convention as internal debates intensify within the party.
On Friday, CWC Member Madhu Acharya presented a proposal demanding that a special general convention be held on December 10. Acharya’s proposal comes amid deep divisions within the party over whether to hold the 15th General Convention before or after the upcoming parliamentary elections. On the same day, another CWC member, Kiran Raj Sharma, presented a proposal to inaugurate the general convention on April 19, coinciding with the founding day of the Nepal Students’ Union.
Earlier on Tuesday, General Secretary Gagan Thapa had proposed holding the convention from December 31–January 3, while Deputy General Secretary Mahendra Yadav countered Thapa’s proposal by stating that the convention should be held on May 10–12 next year.
After Thapa and Yadav presented competing timelines, several leaders have been working toward a middle-ground solution. It was in this context that Acharya introduced the latest proposal for a special convention. Acharya reminded that 54% of the general convention representatives have already submitted a petition with their signatures to Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka to immediately call a special convention.
As per the NC statute, a special convention can be called if at least 40% of the convention representatives request it.
Leaders close to Thapa and the anti-establishment faction have been demanding that the general convention be completed before the House of Representatives elections, scheduled for March 5, to elect a new leadership ahead of the polls.
The faction has been arguing that the party must go into the upcoming elections with new leadership, while the establishment side insists that it is impractical to hold the convention before the polls.
NC Spokesperson Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, leader of the establishment faction, said on Friday that the party should focus on the upcoming national elections rather than on the debate over holding a general or special convention. “Instead of arguing whether to hold the convention now or later, we must first provide leadership that can steer the country out of its current challenges,” Mahat said. “If the elections are held in March, the NC should move forward in unity; if not, we can set an alternative timeframe for the general convention.”
Leaders of the faction warn that convening the general convention before March could cause internal rifts during the election campaign. They argue that since the convention is an internal party matter, it can be organized at any suitable time and that all members should instead focus on the elections.
NC Publicity Department Chief Min Bahadur Bishwakarma said the demand for a special convention has largely lost momentum. “The debate is now about timing—whether to hold it before or after the elections,” he said, adding that a decision would be made soon through consensus.
Leaders of both factions have been holding separate meetings to rally support for their respective proposals.
Amid the growing dispute, some leaders have proposed a middle path. Bishwakarma, CWC member NP Saud, and others have suggested that if the elections are held on March 5 as scheduled, the general convention should take place afterward. If the polls are postponed, the convention should be held by mid-January at the latest, they say.
