NC decides to postpone general convention to May 11-14

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress has decided to hold its 15th General Convention in Kathmandu from May 11-14.

A meeting of the Central Work Execution Committee of the party held in Lalitpur on Friday approved the proposal, according to NC Spokesperson Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat.

Earlier, the party’s Central Working Committee had decided to hold the general convention in Kathmandu from January 10-12. However, as tasks such as updating the active membership could not be carried forward as per the timeline approved by the Central Working Committee, General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma on Thursday announced that the convention had been postponed and that the party will proceed with holding a special convention as demanded by 54% of convention representatives.

Leaders close to the establishment faction, however, have maintained that once a date has been fixed for the regular general convention, the rationale for a special convention will not exist.

According to the new schedule, ward conventions at the village and municipal levels will be held on April 4, followed by village/municipal conventions on April 8, and provincial assembly constituency conventions on April 11.

Similarly, district conventions will be held on April 15 and April 18, while provincial conventions are proposed for April 23, 24, and 25.

The meeting also decided to extend the tenure of all party committees and office-bearers until May 14, citing special circumstances, as per Article 43 of the party statute.

According to former Vice President Bimalendra Nidhi, Acting Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka said in the meeting that the rationale for a special convention had already ended.