Petition submitted to NC demanding special general convention

KATHMANDU: The anti-establishment faction of Nepali Congress (NC) has submitted a petition calling for a special general convention of the party with signatures of 53% of the general convention delegates.

NC leader Gururaj Ghimire submitted the petition to Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka at NC’s Central Party Office in Sanepa on Wednesday.

“This is a consultation within the party, not a dispute,” he said. “We have submitted the signatures reflecting the sentiments of our colleagues.”

Ghimire claimed that the signature campaign had been initiated through legitimate and procedural means. “General convention delegates have the right to call a special general convention,” he added.

NC leaders began collecting signatures from general convention delegates demanding a special general convention following the Gen Z protest on September 8. It received the backing of General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma, among other leaders.

Thapa and Sharma, however, are now in favor of holding regular general convention on time.

On Tuesday, Deuba assigned his responsibilities to Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka, citing health reasons. Following Deuba’s announcement of his intent to resign, the possibility of the party holding its regular general convention by December has increased.