KATHMANDU, Nov 28: Top leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC) are making a final attempt to reach a consensus on the date and modality of the party’s 15th General Convention.
Seeking a middle path between demands for a special convention and the leadership’s firm stance, party president Sher Bahadur Deuba is proposing to unveil the convention calendar in Poush (mid-December to mid-January) and hold the general convention in Baishakh (mid-April to mid-May).
Speaking with leaders from various tiers of the party on Thursday, Deuba—who opposes holding a special convention—hinted positively at publishing the convention schedule in the last week of Poush.
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According to leaders close to Deuba, the plan is to announce the schedule in Poush and then begin ward- and municipality-level conventions accordingly.
“The calendar will come in Poush,” a source said. “If lower-level conventions begin in Poush, the central general convention will naturally be pushed to Baishakh.”
Leaders believe this modality would offer ‘face-saving’ for General Secretary duo Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma—who have been demanding a special convention—and help reduce the growing polarization inside the party.
“This will create a path for leaders and cadres currently gathering at the Party Palace to return to the central office,” the source added.
Earlier, after the general secretaries and the rival faction intensified pressure, the establishment side had prepared to bring a schedule—based on its majority—stating that the general convention would be held only after the election scheduled for March 5.
However, Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka and leader Shekhar Koirala insisted that any decision must be taken based on consensus.
The Central Working Committee meeting, which began on October 14, has been called again for Friday. Ahead of the meeting, top leaders remained busy in internal consultations late into Thursday night, hoping to finalize a concrete agreement on the convention date.
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