Himal Press 
Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) Spokesperson Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has claimedCongress that the party’s general convention has not been postponed and that it was only getting delayed.
Dr Mahat maid the claim after the party’s two general secretaries, Gagan Kumar Thapa and Biswho Prakash Thapa, issued a joint statement on Thursday, claiming that the general convention has ben postponed and that the party will now proceed with organizing a special convention as demanded by 54% of the party’s general convention representatives.
Sources say the Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hal has been booked for a few days starting January 11 to host the general convention.
The statement has created controversy in the party with some cadres going to the extent of claiming that the party was headed for a split.
Dr Mahat, who is a close aide of party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, said the two general secretaries alone do not have the authority to decide to postpone the general convention or convene a special one. “The party operates under the leadership of the President. Neither can I decide on my own, nor can the two general secretaries,” Mahat said.
He added that no proposal for a special convention was tabled in the Central Work Execution Committee meting held few days ago. “They did not even present a proposal in that meeting to postpone the regular general convention and hold a special one,” he clarified.
According to Mahat, the regular general convention has not been postponed; it simply could not be held on the scheduled date. He said that despite being aware of time constraints and practical difficulties, the convention date was fixed on the proposal of the general secretaries themselves and was approved by the Central Working Committee.
He said the dispute over finalizing active membership delayed the convention process. “This is a collective responsibility. It will not be appropriate to shift responsibility onto others and talk about a special general convention,” he added.
