Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Former Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged party leaders and cadres to reject any general convention held against the party’s rules, statute and decisions of the Central Working Committee.
Issuing a seven-point appeal on Tuesday, Deuba urged party leaders and cadres not to participate in the general convention being advanced by the party’s establishment faction that emerged from the special general convention.
“As a legitimately elected president from the 14th General Convention, it is my legal, political and moral responsibility to complete the party’s 15th General Convention and hand over the leadership,” Deuba said in the appeal, urging party cadres to focus on preparations for the 15th General Convention scheduled for December 7-9.
The party leadership and the dissident faction have published separate calendars for the party’s 15th General Convention. The party establishment is holding the 15th General Convention from October 2 to 5 in Kathmandu.
Deuba accused the faction that held the special general convention of moving ahead unilaterally by publishing a schedule for a so-called 15th General Convention.
“I sincerely appeal to all NC leaders and cadres not to participate in the general convention organized by the group that emerged from the illegal special general convention,” Deuba said. “Moving ahead with the general convention before the Supreme Court reaches a final verdict on the legality of the special general convention goes against the party’s rules, statute and legal principles.”
Stating that a full bench of the Supreme Court has already granted permission to review the case, Deuba said serious constitutional and legal questions remain concerning the validity of the special general convention.
“Since the question of legality is sub judice, moving ahead with the convention process before a final verdict is delivered does not appear appropriate from political, moral, legal or constitutional perspectives,” he said.
Deuba also accused some leaders of trying to weaken and divide the NC by rushing to hold a general convention without consensus despite having sufficient time to prepare for it.
He said a general convention held without the participation of a majority of party leaders and cadres could not strengthen the party.
“Those who held a special general convention while spreading propaganda against experienced leadership, claiming that elections could not be won, have failed to learn even from the election results. This is indicative not of a tendency to build the NC but of a tendency to weaken it,” Deuba said.
Deuba said he had no desire for any party position and no ambition to assume any further responsibility. However, he said he remained ready to serve the country and the party until the end of his life if his experience was considered necessary.
