KATHMANDU: The 14th General Convention of the Nepali Congress saw Sher Bahadur Deuba elected as the President.
Approximately 80 percent of the office bearers and members of the Central Committee were chosen from the Deuba panel.
However, Deuba did not secure the General Secretary position for the second term as he had hoped.
Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat and Pradeep Poudel, who were running for the post of General Secretary from Deuba’s panel, were defeated.
Gagan Thapa from Dr. Shekhar Koirala’s group and Bishwaprakash Sharma from Prakash Man Singh’s panel emerged victorious as General Secretaries.
Despite the defeat, Nepali Congress workers managed to elect two young leaders to support President Deuba.
In the Nepali Congress, the General Secretary holds substantial executive power in running the party.
Instead of waiting for years for a law to be passed, the Nepali Congress brought forward an ordinance that boosted the business interests of entrepreneurs, further solidifying its reputation as an efficient event organizer.
This made it critical for Deuba to gain the support of the General Secretaries to manage the party effectively.
However, the NC Central Committee remained divided, and there were internal criticisms from the establishment party regarding the elected General Secretaries.
The General Secretaries maintained the ‘democratic beauty’ of the Congress, despite tensions.
Deuba, uncomfortable working with a General Secretary from a different faction, gradually distanced them from key responsibilities.
The party also rejected the establishment party’s proposal not to coordinate elections before the parliamentary polls, limiting the power of the parliamentary board in ticket distribution.
Consequently, the Nepali Congress contested the parliamentary elections with only half of the available seats.
Despite this, the Nepali Congress emerged as the largest party after the elections.
Naturally, as the first party, they should have claimed the leadership of the government.
But NC President Deuba, unsure of securing the Prime Ministerial position, acknowledged that either Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda or KP Oli would likely take the role.
During this time, the General Secretaries were excluded from crucial discussions, meetings, and activities, and were not entrusted with any responsibilities.
Amid these issues, the General Secretaries traveled to Pokhara for a literature festival.
Meanwhile, the political landscape shifted in Kathmandu, where a Prachanda-led government was formed with support from the UML.
Though the Nepali Congress had the most seats, it joined the opposition instead of forming a government.
The Nepali Congress was deeply hurt by this loss of power, with Congress workers using social media to voice their frustrations.
The General Secretaries became the target of blame, both for failing to form a ruling coalition and for not being given enough responsibility.
As tensions rose between Deuba and the General Secretaries, the Nepali Congress’s internal activities stalled, and accusations mounted.
Eventually, the General Secretaries recognized that they could only function effectively by working alongside Deuba rather than fighting him.
After meeting with the President, the General Secretaries proposed a unified approach, stating, “Let’s work together, not fight.”
This suggestion, though a challenge for President Deuba, was not entirely unwelcome.
Despite Prachanda having a majority within the party, the accusations from the General Secretaries had cast Deuba in a more favorable light publicly.
Deuba agreed to cooperate, on the condition that the General Secretaries would assist him in running the party.
The General Secretaries were then assigned responsibility for organizing meetings, task forces, and preparations for the party’s work, and the cooperation started to bear fruit.
Since then, the Nepali Congress has continued to organize various events.
In a notable display of organizational prowess, the Nepali Congress has held multiple events in the city.
These include an ‘entrepreneur fair’ at the party office since the BP Literature Festival, a cricket tournament organized by the Nepal Students’ Union, and the President’s Cup football tournament.
Despite the controversies, the Congress has managed to distribute large amounts of cash prizes for these events, circumventing financial rules that require checks for such transactions.
The Nepali Congress’s ability to organize events has been fine-tuned since the BP Festival, with the party presenting a more ‘professional character’ in event planning.
The Nepali Congress has formed central committees to organize the general conventions of its various organizations, including the Nepali Sangh, Tarun Dal, and Mahila Sangh.
These steering committees have been involved in various activities, although the general conventions themselves have yet to be held.
Now, with the Ministry of Sports under Nepali Congress leadership, the party has showcased its flair for organizing competitive events, including the successful President’s Cup football tournament.
While the Nepali Congress continues to thrive in event organizing, some question the adherence to laws governing financial transactions, as cash prizes continue to be distributed in baskets, bypassing the requirement for checks.
Despite this, the Nepali Congress remains the city’s best ‘event organizer,’ with a reputation for executing events on a large scale.
Nepali Congress increases involvement in event management
The Nepali Congress has increasingly expanded its involvement in event management, learning valuable lessons along the way.
Despite struggling to hold its own general convention, the party successfully organized international-level cricket events.
If not for the cooperation between the president and the general secretaries, such events may not have been possible.
The Jay Nepal Cup, for example, was a resounding success due to the effective collaboration within the Nepali Congress leadership.
It not only contributed to Nepali cricket but also showcased the Nepali Congress’s growing proficiency in organizing large-scale events.
Private sector investments played a significant role in supporting Congress-organized events, with banks’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds distributed under the Nepali Congress banner.
In a country where there are no functional stadiums, the Nepali Congress should be taking the lead in organizing cricket or football tournaments, using the party’s influence and the sports ministry.
In return, the party quickly repaid the private sector’s goodwill. Under President Deuba’s direction, the general secretaries introduced a private sector-friendly ordinance, bypassing the lengthy parliamentary process.
Instead of waiting for years for a law to be passed, the Nepali Congress brought forward an ordinance that boosted the business interests of entrepreneurs, further solidifying its reputation as an efficient event organizer.
Unity within the party has proven to be a key factor in organizing such events.
When the president and general secretaries are in alignment, the Nepali Congress is able to hold more events, thereby increasing its organizational capacity.
This is why, despite numerous extensions, the general convention of the party’s fraternal organizations—meant to be held within Chaitra—has yet to make it onto the Nepali Congress’s agenda.
Instead, the government has strengthened the Congress through an ordinance while focusing on registering the controversial ‘Social Media Act.’
The same individuals who took credit for passing the ordinance are now distancing themselves from the bill.
What was once heralded as a triumph now faces internal opposition. Those who previously advocated for the ordinance now find themselves backtracking, stating they will not allow the bill to pass under any circumstances.
As part of the ruling government, the Nepali Congress has already claimed credit for the ordinance, but now it faces the fallout of its decisions.
Meanwhile, a faction of younger Nepali Congress members has been vocal in opposing the bill.
In a country where there are no functional stadiums, the Nepali Congress should be taking the lead in organizing cricket or football tournaments, using the party’s influence and the sports ministry.
Yet, the Nepali Congress is yet to organize any new events. Instead, it finds itself caught in a paradox: a party that simultaneously plays the role of reformer, bystander, and critic, all while navigating internal disputes and public expectations.
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