KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress (NC) is set to hold its 15th General Convention from October 2. However, former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, along with leaders Krishna Sitaula, Prakash Man Singh, Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, NP Saud and others, are preparing for a separate general convention.
Former acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka and influential leader Dr Shekhar Koirala have also said they will not participate in the general convention. Meanwhile, the NC is nearing completion of its regional conventions as part of preparations for the general convention. As a result, the possibility of bringing leaders such as Khadka from the Deuba camp and Koirala into the ongoing convention process appears to have diminished.
NC General Secretary Guru Ghimire says the party’s doors remain open and that even leaders who are unable to participate in the 15th General Convention through the formal process can still engage with the party by attending the inaugural session.
He also says the party will follow a democratic process if leaders express their willingness to participate. Khabarhub spoke with General Secretary Ghimire about the ongoing developments. Edited excerpts:
Will the general convention go ahead as planned?
We were open to keeping all doors open for them and allowing members who had renewed their membership by December 25 to participate in the electoral process. We also relaxed the mandatory membership-renewal requirement.
We said the membership-renewal process would continue even after the general convention and that if any doubts or disputes arose during the convention, they could be addressed through the appropriate mechanism and the process could be taken forward accordingly.
We wanted everyone to come together and hold the general convention. Despite keeping all doors open, they were not ready to participate. The leaders who have come forward are now participating in the general convention process.
Leaders such as Krishna Sitaula, Prakash Man Singh and Prakash Sharan Mahat have said that Gagan Thapa did not want to communicate with or meet former president Sher Bahadur Deuba. What is your response?
There are two things I have understood about this. First, even after former president Deuba returned from Singapore and Hong Kong, President Gagan Thapa made strong efforts to meet him. However, the former president did not want to meet him at that time. Whether he did not want to meet him or was not allowed to meet him is an important question.
Even afterward, efforts were made to arrange a meeting, but it did not take place.
Now, this issue is being presented according to their own convenience. The fact is that President Gagan Thapa made several attempts to meet former president Deuba, but the meeting did not happen. He was asked to meet, but he was not available. Various reasons were given for why the meeting could not take place.
If Gagan Thapa and former president Sher Bahadur Deuba had met and moved forward together, it could have created a different atmosphere. However, an environment for such a meeting was not created. Despite prolonged efforts, it was not possible to sit down with him for consultation.
Does President Gagan Thapa still want to meet him?
It is too late now. We have already entered the general convention process. After the regional convention, the procedural path for them to participate in the general convention will effectively be closed.
I do not think there is now a situation in which we can meet, discuss and bring everyone together before the general convention process is completed. Those outside the formal party structure are carrying out activities in the name of the Nepali Congress, while those within the party structure are focused on party activities and the general convention.
Therefore, we will leave the matter for now. What we are saying is that there is still a possibility of holding discussions after the general convention.
Will Purna Bahadur Khadka and Dr Shekhar Koirala also stay out of the general convention?
Procedurally, the possibility of their participation has ended. However, if they say they want to support the general convention, we are ready to welcome them. Many leaders from their side have already joined. Efforts were made to reconcile the two sides, but they did not produce results.
So, did leaders from the Deuba camp choose not to participate in the general convention?
Our intention was never to sideline anyone. However, they chose to stay out of the process. They had the opportunity until two or three days ago. Now that the process of electing general convention delegates from the grassroots level is nearing completion, they have been procedurally excluded from this general convention.
Nearly 100 colleagues who were members of Sher Bahadur Deuba’s then working committee have joined our team. Had we not made efforts, it would not have been possible to bring them in.
Some leaders, however, have been left out. I feel bad that they have been excluded. But once the process has moved forward, even if we are emotional about it, there is little that can be done.
We did not try to sideline anyone.
The door remains open for those who wish to come. The ward convention process has been completed, while the regional convention is nearing completion. We are now on the eve of the general convention.
If they want to come to the general convention, support it and help move the party forward, they are welcome. However, we do not want to create a situation in which they are subjected to unnecessary criticism or discussion.
The time for entering the general convention as delegates and participating through the formal process has passed. As leaders of the party, they can still support and help the general convention and work together. The possibility of working together in the future remains open.
Is the possibility of a meeting over?
It must be said that it is almost over for now. However, if they come and participate in the inaugural session, we can welcome them respectfully.
The procedural path for participating in the general convention as delegates has now closed. If the general convention is successfully concluded, there will still be an opportunity for dialogue and meetings afterward.
What would you like to tell them now?
Stop the separate process and let us unite the Congress and move forward together. This is not the time to divide the party. Let us find a solution to the problems from within the party and move forward together.
In your estimation, what percentage of the NC will support the party’s current general convention process?
I have not calculated it in terms of percentages. Some may feel unhappy if I give a figure now, but as I have said, they must have missed something. That is clear.
They may say that they demonstrated greater strength out of enthusiasm, but only a small percentage appears to be outside the current process.
Who will be the next leader of the party?
Gagan Thapa will be the next president. I do not see an alternative to him at present because there does not appear to be a situation in which another colleague can compete with him for the presidency at the general convention.
So far, he is the only contender who has emerged, and I expect him to take the position.
So, why not go through the election process?
If only one person files a candidacy for the presidency, how can there be an election? If other leaders also submit their candidacies, the electoral process will proceed.
However, based on the situation so far, Gagan appears to be the only candidate. There will be an electoral process for other posts where there are multiple candidates. Since we are a party committed to democratic practices, we will not prevent anyone from contesting.
If only one person is nominated for a post, the candidate can be elected unanimously. I do not think anyone other than Gagan will currently claim the presidency. The 15th General Convention of the Nepali Congress will be held under his leadership, and we will work to bring him to the party leadership.
What preparations are you making?
At present, we have not made any comprehensive preparations of that kind. We are clear about the leadership issue. Other matters involving consensus or elections can proceed according to the situation.
If more than one person submits a candidacy for any post and expresses a willingness to contest, the process will not be stopped. The democratic process will be followed.
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