Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC), who are in favor of holding the party’s regular general convention, have said that there is no justification for calling a special convention.
Speaking at a gathering of leaders close to the establishment faction of the party in Kathmandu on Thursday, they said that instead of pushing for a special convention, the party should focus on strengthening its organisation and addressing the challenges the country is currently facing. They also accused party leaders at the center of proposing a special convention only after first distributing leadership positions among themselves.
Uddhav Thapa, president of the Nepali Koshi Province Committee of the party, said the party must assess why it is heading toward polarization, when there is a need for unity. “The need of the hour is rebuilding the country rather than convening a special convention,” Thapa said, adding that the party should put all efforts toward ensuring successful elections. The party should be consolidated through the regular general convention after the elections are held, he added.
Similarly, Durlabh Thapa, president of the Bhaktapur District Committee, accused the party’s general secretary of spreading confusion on social media about the general convention. “No amount of external pressure can prevent the party from holding its regular convention,” he claimed.
A dispute is ongoing within the NC over whether to hold a special or a regular general convention. Various factions have been organising separate gatherings to promote their viewpoint regarding the general convention.
Party leaders, however, claim that the issue of a special convention has already lost relevance and that the current debate is only about whether the regular convention should be held before or after the upcoming elections.
