Preparations are under way to convene a special general convention of the Nepali Congress after it became clear that the party will not be able to hold its regular general convention.
After consulting with party leaders, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka had presented a schedule for the 15th general convention through the central committee on December 1. But the general convention did not proceed according to the timetable.
With a regular general convention no longer feasible, general convention delegates recently submitted a memorandum to acting president Khadka at the central office in Sanepa, demanding a special general convention. Since Khadka showed reluctance to call a special general convention, those demanding a special general convention have increased pressure on General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma.
On October 15, 54 percent of general convention delegates met acting president Khadka at the central office in Sanepa and submitted signatures demanding a special general convention. According to the party statute, once such signatures are submitted, a special general convention must be held within three months. However, neither the party president nor the acting president appears supportive of holding a special general convention.
As a result, General Secretaries Thapa and Sharma have begun preparations to organize a special general convention themselves.
“On January 12, it will be three months since 54 percent of general convention delegates demanded a special general convention. Therefore, General Secretaries Gagan and Bishwa Prakash have begun preparations to organize a special general convention on January 10 itself,” a party office-bearer told Setopati. “It is now certain that the 15th general convention will not be held, therefore a special general convention is both inevitable and relevant.”
Supporters of a special general convention had also consulted legal experts to determine whether party office-bearers have the authority to call such a general convention. The lawyers suggested that the general secretaries are authorized to do so. Following this advice, the general secretaries moved ahead with preparations for a special general convention, according to the office-bearer.
Some leaders have also argued that since the central office functions under the general secretaries and the central office itself can convene a special general convention, the general secretaries have the authority to call such a general convention.
The Nepali Congress statute states that if 40 percent of general convention delegates demand a special general convention, it must be held within three months.
Although the party had announced ward-level conventions for Wednesday (December 31), disputes related to active membership still persist in many areas. General Secretary Sharma had earlier raised objections in a central working committee meeting, alleging that some disputes were deliberately created with mala fide intention.
General Secretary Thapa has said that holding a special general convention by the end of Paush (January 14) has become not only a statutory obligation, but also essential for party unity and self-confidence.
Stating that building a Nepali Congress capable of fulfilling its responsibility to the nation is the generational duty of every party worker, Thapa said that the path of a special general convention was chosen to fulfill that responsibility.
“We have moved forward on the path of convening a special general convention by the end of Paush to fulfill this responsibility,” Thapa said.
Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, however, told a group of journalists at his Maharajgunj residence on Tuesday that a “special general convention” should not be held.
Some leaders close to Deuba argue that although the statute provides for a special general convention, there are no procedures related to it.
According to Baldev Timilsina, a leader advocating for a special general convention, the party has repeatedly been urged to fix a date and venue for a special general convention by January 12.
He said that discussions are ongoing regarding various modalities, including convening a meeting of special general convention supporters, urging party office-bearers to hold a special general convention, and even approaching the court or the Election Commission.
