KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire has said that a clear majority of the party’s general convention representatives were involved in the special general convention, rejecting claims that the process lacked legitimacy.
Providing figures, Ghimire said 2,488 out of a total 4,635 general convention representatives, equivalent to 54.58 percent, had signed the petition demanding the special general convention. He added that 2,652 representatives, or 57.21 percent of the total members, ultimately participated in the convention, which he said met both political and constitutional thresholds.
He made the clarification while publicly responding to issues raised by the party’s then acting president and other leaders at the Election Commission regarding the validity of the special general convention.
Later in the statement, Ghimire strongly dismissed the objections raised at the Election Commission, calling them illogical and politically motivated propaganda. He said the Nepali Congress had already completed its historic special general convention, elected a new Central Working Committee, and submitted all required documents to the Commission.
“Raising such issues after leadership has already been selected through voting or consensus is baseless and intended to create confusion,” Ghimire said, adding that questioning the withdrawal of some signatures after the convention had concluded had no procedural relevance.
The general secretary also questioned the role of the then Central Working Committee, accusing it of avoiding its constitutional responsibilities. He said the committee failed to formally deliberate on the demand for a special general convention for three months, declared the convention unjustified through the Executive Committee, and did not adhere to the regular convention timetable.
Ghimire further alleged that the committee halted ward conventions without completing active membership renewal and distribution, and later announced a regular general convention for a date four months later, despite its own term having been extended only until the end of Magh (mid-Feb). He termed this move unconstitutional and against party statutes.
Addressing claims that a large number of representatives had withdrawn their signatures, Ghimire said party records show that only 29 general convention representatives had formally withdrawn. He also expressed surprise that the then acting president, who had personally received the petition demanding the special general convention, later claimed to have merely heard rumors about it.
Ghimire said the party’s official position on the controversy will be further communicated through the central office via the party spokesperson.
Comment