Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has said that the party has no alternative but to hold its convention by mid-January.
Receiving a reminder letter from party leaders and cadres—who had earlier submitted a proposal demanding a special general convention with the signatures of general convention delegates—at the party’s central office in Lalitpur on Friday, Thapa said he would bring the issue to the attention of the ongoing meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee.
In the letter, the leaders and cadres reminded the party leadership that a special general convention must be held within three months of the date the proposal is formally registered. They argued that the party is legally bound to convene a special convention if a regular general convention is not held within this period.
Thapa said no one is exempt from complying with the party statute and that the situation has now necessitated moving toward a special general convention in accordance with the statute. “Holding the convention by mid-January has now become a mandatory responsibility of the party’s Central Working Committee,” he added.
Another General Secretary, Bishwo Prakash Sharma, said the party must operate in line with its statute. He said the Central Working Committee should take an appropriate decision and move forward accordingly.
The proposal demanding a special general convention was formally registered at the party office on October 15. Advocates of the special convention claim the proposal contains the signatures of 54.58% of the general convention delegates.
