KATHMANDU: Former Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged party leaders and cadres not to participate in the general convention being organised by the faction led by party president Gagan Thapa.
The Nepali Congress is intensifying preparations for its 15th General Convention in Kathmandu from October 2 to 5 under the leadership of President Gagan Thapa. Amid the dispute within the party, Deuba has called for efforts to resolve the differences.
However, he has urged party leaders and cadres to instead join preparations for the 15th General Convention scheduled to be held from December 7 to 9 by the opposition faction. His appeal has further deepened concerns that the Nepali Congress could split into two factions.
Issuing an appeal on Tuesday, Deuba accused the group seeking to hold the convention of attempting to proceed unilaterally with an unauthorised special convention in violation of the party’s rules, statute, established procedures, traditions and decisions of the Central Working Committee.
He said an attempt to move forward by ignoring leaders who have contributed to building the party over many years and the majority of party members could not be in the interest of the Nepali Congress.
Deuba also claimed that the special convention faction’s claims of popularity had already been disproved by the results of the House of Representatives election.
He said proceeding with the convention before the Supreme Court reaches a final decision on its legality would go against established procedures, the party statute, and legal and constitutional principles.
“The fact that the full bench of the Supreme Court has already granted leave for review clearly shows that there are serious constitutional and legal questions involved in this matter,” Deuba said.
Referring to Gagan Thapa as the leader of the special convention faction, Deuba accused the group of weakening the Nepali Congress by proceeding with the 15th General Convention without the participation of the majority of party leaders and cadres despite the possibility of reaching consensus.
He therefore urged Congress leaders and cadres not to participate in the convention organised by the faction.
Deuba said he had no desire for any party position or responsibility. As the president elected by the 14th General Convention, he said completing the 15th General Convention and handing over the party leadership was his legal, political and moral responsibility.
“I have no desire to reach any position now. However, if the state and the Nepali Congress deem it necessary to utilise my experience, I will not hesitate to fulfil my responsibility until the final moments of my life,” Deuba said.
He warned that he would not remain a silent observer if attempts were made to weaken or divide the party by rushing into a special convention, arguing that sufficient time remained to hold the general convention in accordance with the party statute and Constitution.
At the beginning of his appeal, Deuba paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the Bhotekoshi floods and called for continued search and rescue efforts for those still missing. He urged all Nepalis to unite in search, rescue, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction without political, religious or geographical discrimination during the difficult period caused by the natural disaster.
Deuba also called for an objective review of Nepal’s development and political achievements over the past 35 years. He said criticism that parties including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Nepali Communist Party had accomplished nothing should be assessed through comparative analysis.
He said the country should not remain satisfied with its existing achievements and called for new thinking, energy and commitment to improve good governance, employment, economic prosperity and public trust in the state.
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