KATHMANDU: The Sher Bahadur Deuba-led faction of the Nepali Congress has stepped up preparations for the party’s 15th General Convention, proposing to hold the central convention from December 7 to 9.
The second meeting of the faction’s 15th Central General Convention Preparation Committee held on Wednesday proposed a schedule for conventions from the ward level to the central level.
The committee has proposed forming four committees for convention preparations by Bhadra 18, including the Central Election Committee, Active Membership Review and Management Committee, Statute Amendment Committee and Discipline Committee.
It has also proposed forming ad hoc committees for the Nepal Women Association, Nepal Student Union, Nepal Tarun Dal, Nepal Dalit Association and Nepal Indigenous Nationalities Federation.
The committee has proposed appointing central representatives to facilitate the formation of district convention preparation committees in all 77 districts. The representatives are expected to reach their respective districts by September 5, with district convention preparation committees to be formed by September 10.
Similarly, convention preparation committees for federal and provincial assembly constituencies are proposed to be formed by September 13, while committees for local levels and wards are to be formed by September 19.
Active membership to be finalised by September 25
The committee has identified active membership as a key issue in the convention preparations and proposed finalising the details of new active members by September 25.
It has proposed allowing all active members who participated in the 14th General Convention to participate in the 15th convention. Those who had decided during the 14th convention to participate in the 15th convention would also be allowed to take part.
Similarly, those who had renewed their active membership by December 25, 2025, and those who had submitted forms for new active membership by the same date would be eligible to participate.
In case of disputes over active membership, the decision of the Active Membership Review and Management Committee would be considered final, according to the proposal.
Proposed convention schedule
The proposed schedule sets the ward conventions for October 1, local-level conventions for October 6 and provincial and federal constituency conventions for October 9.
District conventions are proposed for November 1, provincial conventions for November 20, and the central General Convention for December 7 to 9.
The Central Election Committee will deploy election and polling officers across all seven provinces and 77 districts, as well as to federal and provincial assembly constituencies, local levels and wards to conduct the convention process.
Candidate selection process to begin
The meeting also proposed beginning the process of collecting and selecting potential candidates for provincial assembly and various local-level positions.
The concerned committees would collect names of people interested in contesting positions such as rural municipality chairpersons and vice-chairpersons, mayors and deputy mayors, ward chairs and members, and begin the necessary process to select suitable candidates.
Appeal for support for Rasuwa flood recovery
The meeting expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and property caused by the devastating Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa on August 26.
Noting that hundreds of people had died, thousands remained missing, hundreds had been injured and thousands of families displaced, the committee urged the government to ensure search and rescue, relief, safe housing, appropriate compensation and rehabilitation for those affected.
It also appealed to political parties, sister and well-wisher organisations, the private sector, industrialists and businesspeople, financial institutions, friendly countries, the international community and donor agencies to provide necessary assistance during the crisis.
The party also renewed its call for leaders and cadres at all levels to continue engaging in humanitarian services during the disaster.
The meeting further proposed organising the 113th BP Memorial Day and holding discussions on contemporary political issues and other matters.
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