Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Former Vice President of the Nepali Congress (NC) Bimalendra Nidhi has made it clear that there is no need for a special general convention of the party.
In an interview with Himal Press, Nidhi, who is also a former home minister, said that the party leadership now sees elections, rather than the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, as the primary way forward.
Nidhi said the attack on NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba during the Gen Z protests, along with incidents targeting leaders and workers across the country, has underscored the need to strengthen unity within the party. “We are in favor of elections. We are not in favor of reinstating the House of Representatives. Also, there is no need for a special general convention,” he said. “Our President has been attacked; leaders and cadres across the country have been attacked. In such a situation, the party must remain united.”
He described the signature campaign launched by General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma calling for a special convention as immature, shortsighted, and untimely. “They themselves are general secretaries. This issue could have been raised and discussed in the Central Working Committee meeting,” Nidhi said.
According to him, even if 54% of the general convention representatives sign the petition, it would be wrong to treat the remaining 46% as if they do not exist. “The party should follo a consensual process,” he added.
Nidhi added that since President Deuba has already appointed an acting president, announced that he would not run in the next convention, and is ineligible to contest again under party statute, there is no leadership crisis in the NC unlike in other parties.
“The general convention is still some time away, and leadership change is inevitable. NC is firmly in favor of going for elections,” Nidhi said.
