KATHMANDU: The closed session of the second day of the Nepali Congress statute convention, scheduled to begin at 8 am on Tuesday, has yet to start as high-level talks continue in Baluwatar.
According to party sources, negotiations are underway between party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, senior leader Dr Shekhar Koirala and leaders of the special convention faction in an effort to reach a political understanding. The ongoing dialogue has directly affected the convention schedule at Bhriikutimandap.
General Secretaries Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Gagan Kumar Thapa arrived late at the convention venue as discussions at the leadership level continued.
With no agreement yet in sight, the statute convention’s agenda remains stalled, and delegates at Bhriikutimandap are waiting for the closed session to begin.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee called by the establishment faction for 11 am on Tuesday has also been postponed. The meeting, which was scheduled to be held at the BP Smriti Bhawan in Lalitpur, will now take place at 1 pm.
In a notice issued by Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel, central office-bearers, members, invitees and provincial party presidents from all seven provinces have been asked to attend the rescheduled meeting.
Sources say if the talks among the top leadership fail to produce an agreement, the special statute convention could move ahead with preparations to elect a new leadership, further escalating the internal power struggle within the party.
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