Outgoing Nepali Congress spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat has proposed the formation of a short-term consensus-based mechanism to resolve internal party differences and ensure a fair 15th general convention.
Speaking at a press conference held at his residence in Kathmandu on Thursday, Mahat suggested that a mechanism could be established to bridge the gap between the working committee elected from the 14th general convention and the working committee formed after the special general convention held in January, thereby resolving the differences that have emerged between the two sides.
Expressing his commitment to broader party unity, Mahat said that party President Gagan Thapa must take the initiative for this.
"President Gaganji must take the initiative for broader unity; occasional meetings alone are not enough. Both sides must sit down. We are not looking for any share in positions; we want a basis and an environment of trust that the 15th general convention will be fair," Mahat said.
According to Mahat, a mechanism is essential to accomplish three primary tasks within the party.
The first task is to ensure a fair general convention.
"It is necessary to ensure the impartiality, transparency, ownership, and participation of the 15th general convention. For that to happen, there must be an understanding between colleagues who came from the 14th general convention and those who came from the special general convention," he said. “It is not enough to merely claim that we will ensure a fair general convention; there must be a basis and atmosphere of trust for it. What we seek is a guarantee that the general convention will be fair.”
He emphasized the need for dialogue between both camps to create an environment of trust. “Both sides must sit down and reach an understanding within a few days to form a shared mechanism to hold the general convention,” he said.
According to Mahat, the second task is related to active party memberships.
Members who had renewed or obtained new memberships by January have been given time from April 14 to June 11 to update their memberships. However, some members aligned with leaders Purna Bahadur Khadka and Shekhar Koirala have not updated their memberships.
Mahat said that the issue should be resolved through dialogue between both sides. The party’s active membership management committee is currently headed by General Secretary Pradip Paudel.
Mahat also stressed the need for both sides to discuss and reach a consensus regarding potential amendments to the party's statute.
“A small mechanism is necessary to facilitate dialogue and find solutions to these issues. We should either integrate the working committee that came from the 14th general convention and the working committee that came from the special general convention, or form a small mechanism,” he proposed.
According to Mahat, if such a mechanism succeeds in creating confidence that the general convention will be fair, whoever is elected party president through the 15th general convention would be accepted by all.
Mahat also suggested that the party center could update the memberships of those who have already renewed their memberships, stating, "Details of deceased members or those who have joined other parties can be collected from the wards through the districts and updated by the center digitally."
He reiterated that his side is not opposed to updating active memberships, adding, “However, what will happen in the case of those who have been working in the party for years? Many haven’t even updated their memberships. The party should not say that one cannot participate in the general convention if they don’t update their membership, because those colleagues had already renewed their memberships when Gaganji was general secretary and active membership management committee coordinator.”
Mahat said that efforts should be made immediately for broader party within the party. "Bishwa Prakashji has sent me some points on WhatsApp, and they are aware of our position too,” he said. “It’s not that we don’t want party unity or are trying to separate.”
Mahat said that differences and uncertainty within the party have led some members to leave the party.
