NC's Special Convention announced amid rift

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 8: A Special General Convention of the Nepali Congress has been announced amid deepening internal rift in the oldest party of the country. 

The Special General Convention was summoned by the two general secretaries—Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma—despite strong opposition from the party establishment dominated by the aged leaders. 

According to the announcement, the Special General Convention will be held in Kathmandu on January 11 and 12.  

At a press conference organised in Kathmandu on Wednesday, the Special General Convention Communication and Publicity Committee said the convention had become unavoidable after the party failed to hold its 15th General Convention within the stipulated timeframe. 

The supporters of the Special General Convention argued that although the party had earlier announced a schedule to conclude the 15th general convention by January 12, the process was not completed, leaving the Special General Convention as the only constitutional option.

After the announcement, General Secretaries Thapa and Sharma issued a statement asking all the representatives to participate in the Special General Convention. They argued that the Special General Convention was summoned as per the party statute, and urged all General Convention Representatives to attend the Special General Convention called as per the Article 17 (2) of the party statute. 

The joint statement bearing the signatures of both Thapa and Sharma, read that not to summon the compulsory Special General Convention was a violation of the statute and against the laws related to political parties. 

They issued the statement as they fear the establishment faction may intimidate the General Convention representatives discouraging them from attending the convention.     

The faction backing the Special Gerneral Convention said it was acting under Article 17(2) of the party statute, which mandates that a Special General Convention must be convened within three months if at least 40 per cent of central general convention delegates submit a written request citing special reasons. They claimed that 2,488 delegates, 54.58 per cent of the total, had formally registered such a demand on October 15, followed by memoranda in December, thereby creating a binding statutory obligation.

The organisers said the Bhrikuti Mandap has already been booked for the convention, subcommittees have been formed, and the secretariat has written to the local administration seeking security arrangements.

They also stated that efforts are underway to persuade party president Sher Bahadur Deuba to inaugurate the event, with leaders agreeing to wait for two more days for his decision.

NC leader Devraj Chalise, speaking at the press conference in New Baneshwor, called on President Deuba, Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka and all senior leaders to attend the Special General Convention and help unite the party. He warned delegates not to be misled by rumours that the convention would not take place, asserting that it would proceed even without the participation of 

the top leadership.

However, the party’s establishment has strongly objected to the move. Party office Chief Secretary, Krishna Prasad Poudel, issued a statement on Wednesday evening arguing that only the Central Working Committee has the authority to call a general or special general convention. Any attempt by individual office bearers or members to do so is against the party statute, read 

his statement. 

The Central Work Performance Committee has also said that the justification for a special general convention expired after it unanimously decided on the agenda and process of the 15th general convention in December. 

With the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5, 2026, the dispute has intensified concerns about internal unity. Interestingly, most of the young and popular leaders have backed the Special General Convention stating that the party could not go to the people with the present leadership, which acted against aspirations 

of the people. 

The announcement of the Special General Convention and its counter by the establishment have worried the NC leaders and supporters whether the party will split before the March 5 polls. However, General Secretaries Thapa and Sharma said they would not split the party.