Congress dispute intensifies: Establishment faction issues 7-point proposal, insists on holding general convention after March 5 elections

KATHMANDU: The dispute over the date and timing of the Nepali Congress general convention has intensified, with differences growing among party leaders.

Leaders Dr. Shekhar Koirala, General Secretary Gagan Thapa, and Bishwaprakash Sharma’s group are pressing for the party’s 15th general convention to be held before March 5.

They have prepared a schedule to present at the postponed Central Working Committee meeting.

However, the establishment faction led by Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka insists that the convention should take place only after the House of Representatives elections on March 5.

7-point proposal by the establishment faction

A meeting of the establishment leaders on Monday in New Baneshwor passed a seven-point proposal to be presented at the Central Working Committee, according to central member Guru Baral. The proposal focuses on holding the convention after the elections. The points are:

Urge all party levels to actively participate in the House of Representatives elections on March 5.

Complete renewal and distribution of active membership by December 30, while conducting door-to-door campaigns and awareness drives to prepare the organization for elections.

Hold the 15th general convention from May 8 to 11, after the elections.

Give priority to party members who have not yet received opportunities as proportional and National Assembly candidates.

Ensure youth representation, particularly selecting from those not given opportunities in the Executive Committee and parliamentary committees.

Immediately form a committee to verify active membership.

Form a committee for bylaw amendments.

Leaders at the meeting emphasized that the party should prioritize election preparations, and holding the convention after elections would be more appropriate.

Meanwhile, the Shekhar–Thapa group has been pushing for an earlier convention to enable leadership changes and structural reforms. The postponed Central Working Committee meeting is expected to resume in the coming days, where both factions’ proposals will be discussed in detail.