Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has said that two of the proposals put forward by leaders from the non-establishment faction, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Shekhar Koirala, cannot be fulfilled.
In separate meetings held recently with General Secretary Guru Raj Ghimire, Khadka and Koirala had presented various proposals in the name of broader party unity. Ghimire conveyed their proposals to Thapa.
Without holding meetings with Khadka and Koirala, Thapa has indirectly responded that two of their proposals cannot be fulfilled because they are not possible under the party statute. However, he said that he is ready to hold discussions to make the 15th general convention inclusive for everyone.
Through Ghimire, Khadka and Koirala had proposed appointing as central members 111 leaders who were elected from the 14th general convention but remained outside the central committee formed after the special general convention in January. They had also proposed ensuring participation in the general convention for those who have not updated their active memberships.
Thapa responded that the party statute does not allow him to accept these proposals. While virtually inaugurating the 7th convention of the Nepali Public Liaison Committee Japan on Sunday, Thapa said that he cannot accept those two proposals as they violate the party statute.
The special general convention was not attended by then-president Sher Bahadur Deuba, then-acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka, and leader Shekhar Koirala’s factions.
The Nepali Congress has already finalized a schedule to hold the 15th general convention in September.
The Khadka-Koirala faction has proposed that, before the 15th general convention, the central committees elected from the 14th general convention and the special general convention should be merged, a unity committee should be formed, and even those whose active memberships have not been updated should be allowed to participate.
“Some leaders are dissatisfied, but I believe that through dialogue, an environment will be created for them to participate in the 15th general convention. I am ready to do whatever is necessary to make the general convention fair and transparent,” Thapa said. “I am ready to discuss the convention’s date. Tell me who you believe should be included in the membership, election, and disciplinary committees so that the convention becomes fair.”
However, Thapa clearly stated that he will not do two things.
“But I will not do two things. If you say we should not update active memberships, that is no longer possible. The statute also does not allow it. It is also unpolitical. Let us not turn this into an ego issue. This is not possible, and there is no point in pursuing it,” he said, referring to the non-establishment leaders. “The other proposal is to merge around 111 leaders elected from the 14th general convention into the central committee elected by the special general convention. I cannot do that either. It is neither practical nor necessary, because being a central member no longer grants any special privileges. Central members and office-bearers will also be selected for the general convention from the wards.”
The NC has already updated detailed information for approximately 600,000 active members renewed until December 25 last year. It is also preparing to distribute new active memberships until July 19.
Thapa said that leaders can, however, be nominated to the central committee. He has already nominated 19 leaders from the Deuba-Koirala faction who did not participate in the special general convention as central members. The establishment is preparing to nominate more leaders.
Thapa has expressed commitment to making the general convention fair and transparent. He said that he is ready to include all sides in all party committees.
Meanwhile, the non-establishment faction is busy preparing for a national gathering. Citing shrinking prospects of agreement with the establishment, leaders from the non-establishment faction gathered on Monday at the contact office in Chundevi to discuss calling a national gathering. Some leaders claim they are preparing to hold the national gathering in the third week of July. Earlier, the Deuba-Koirala factions had jointly organized provincial gatherings.
Leaders from the non-establishment faction have also warned that if the establishment does not show flexibility for the greater interest of the party, the 15th general convention could be held separately.
