As the second special general convention of the Nepali Congress moves toward leadership change, party President Sher Bahadur Deuba and leader Shekhar Koirala have initiated dialogue with General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma.
The closed session of the ongoing special general convention at Bhrikuti Mandap passed a procedure on Monday to move forward with selecting new leadership until the party’s 15th general convention, concluding that the term of the Deuba-led central committee has expired.
After the special general convention, attended by a majority of representatives, advanced toward a leadership selection process, Deuba and Koirala began talks with the two general secretaries.
Koirala held discussions with legal experts and leaders close to him early Monday morning. Following that, leaders close to him held talks with General Secretary Sharma, said a source.
According to one leader, Koirala discussed the possibility of limiting the special general convention to a policy convention and passing only a resolution proposal.
“Bishwa ji said that he would talk to us again after discussing with the other general secretary what issues could be agreed upon,” the leader told Setopati. “They are still in the closed session. We will try to talk again after it concludes.”
Afterward, a team led by Koirala met Deuba at his residence in Maharajgunj, where they briefed him on their discussions with the pro-special general convention faction aimed at preserving party unity.
Deuba informed those present, including Koirala, that he was already in communication with Thapa and Sharma through other channels.
“I am already in talks. We will continue the discussions,” the leader quoted Deuba as saying.
Leader Badri Pandey from the Koirala faction confirmed that dialogue had taken place with both sides.
“Shekhar dai and the rest of us engaged in discussions throughout the day to identify a common ground to keep the party united. So far, no concrete progress has been made,” he said.
Meanwhile, discussions are ongoing in the closed session on the reports presented by General Secretaries Thapa and Sharma.
