KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress’s establishment faction has reportedly begun preparing for possible expulsion of special convention leaders, including General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, if the ongoing tripartite talks fail to reach consensus.
The discussions are currently underway at Baluwatar, and the central committee meeting called by Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka has yet to proceed, as leaders await the outcome of the negotiations. The special convention faction had earlier decided to boycott the central committee meeting.
Speaking at the party’s Sanepa headquarters, leader Deepak Khadka confirmed that the establishment faction is ready to take strict disciplinary action, including expulsion, against Thapa, Sharma, and other special convention supporters if they leave the party. He also noted that district chairpersons have gathered for pressure-building programs, and a signature collection campaign is ongoing at Sanepa.
“We hope the talks conclude with consensus. Preparations are in place in Sanepa. Normally, if they leave the party, expulsion follows,” Khadka said.
A leader close to Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba added that if the second phase of Baluwatar talks fails, the Sanepa central committee meeting could finalize the decision to expel special convention participants, including Thapa and Sharma. “We are awaiting decisions from the Baluwatar meeting. If consensus is not reached, expulsion becomes the only option,” the leader said.
Deuba and Acting President Khadka’s faction has concluded that the special convention faction has already moved the process toward elections, weakening chances for reconciliation.
“The electoral process for new leadership has already begun at Bhrikuti Mandap, reducing the likelihood of consensus,” the leader said. “However, we expect some positive outcome in the second phase of talks. If not, the Saneppa meeting will take the expulsion decision.”
Earlier, following the announcement of the election schedule, Special Convention Secretariat Chief Manomani Acharya had confirmed that the process for selecting new leadership could no longer be halted. “The election train has already left the station, and it will not stop,” Acharya had said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chandra Bhandari and Sunil Sharma, who addressed the opening session of the special convention, left Bhrikuti Mandap following the initiation of the election process. Bhandari later attended the central committee meeting called by the establishment faction in Sanepa.
Comment