KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress is preparing to unveil the schedule for its 15th General Convention by the end of Poush, with the party leadership signaling that the long-running dispute over holding a regular or special convention is now moving toward resolution.
Sunday’s Central Committee meeting is expected to table the convention schedule after weeks of deadlock since October 14.
Amid growing internal division, party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, who had earlier delegated the responsibility to Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka, has stepped in personally to settle the dispute. Over the past three days, Deuba held consecutive rounds of discussions with office bearers and senior leaders.
In Friday’s meeting, Deuba expressed frustration, reminding leaders that he had already expressed readiness to relinquish leadership, yet the party remained stuck between the regular vs special convention debate.
“I gave you responsibility to complete the convention on time. Why are you still arguing?” Deuba reportedly told the leaders. “I am ready to step down, yet you continue prolonging the dispute. We must complete the regular convention by the end of Poush. Why can’t we? Let’s put all our energy into it.”
Leaders present at the meeting said the discussions have now moved toward agreement, with consensus expected by Saturday.
However, General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma expressed concerns over the feasibility of holding a regular convention within the shortened timeframe. They said the party must commit to a fast-track process, including accelerated renewal of active memberships and digital verification.
During the meeting, Thapa reiterated his stance in favor of a special convention, but Deuba firmly rejected the proposal. “There will be no special convention,” he said. “If we are doing this, we are doing it regularly. Let’s all move together.”
More than 54 percent of Convention Representatives have already submitted signatures demanding a special convention. Some leaders urged Thapa to ask signatories to withdraw their appeal, but he refused, stating he cannot take responsibility for reversing a protest that emerged because the leadership failed to act earlier.
The Central Committee has remained divided since the meeting began, prolonging the dispute for weeks. Leaders aligned with Deuba insist the regular convention should be held only after the March 5 parliamentary election, while another faction, supported by both general secretaries, wants an immediate special convention.
A group representing the special convention faction revealed that Acting President Khadka invited them for talks by phone on Friday, but they insisted any formal dialogue request must come on the party’s official letterhead.
The next Central Committee meeting will convene at 2 pm on Sunday, where leaders say the schedule for a regular General Convention will finally be presented.
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