NC convention makes key changes in statute, leaders seek truce

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 14: The ongoing second Special General Convention of the Nepali Congress has endorsed sweeping amendments to the party statute, introducing term limits, overhauling leadership selection, and tightening rules on party membership in what leaders described as a decisive move towards internal reform. The proposals were passed during a closed session at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu on Tuesday, following two days of intensive deliberations by delegates.

Under the revised statute, senior Nepali Congress leaders will no longer be able to hold government positions indefinitely. The new provisions bar any individual from serving as party president more than once and as prime minister more than twice. Limits have also been imposed on other offices, allowing a maximum of three terms as a minister and four terms for directly elected members of parliament. Entry into parliament through the proportional representation system has been restricted to once in a lifetime.

The amendments also seek to institutionalise a bottom-up leadership structure. From now on, all leaders, from the ward level to the central leadership, must be elected through the grassroots. Even the party president will be required to be elected as a ward representative to qualify for higher office, effectively dismantling the long-criticised top-down culture in the party.

The reforms were advanced through separate political and organisational proposals submitted by general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma. Their documents were debated in nine discussion groups representing the seven provinces, the Kathmandu Valley, and affiliated committees, before being approved with incorporated suggestions. With the statute endorsed, the convention moved ahead with the election process for a new central committee.

Addressing delegates, Thapa said the special general convention was not convened to secure positions for individuals, including himself. He argued that questioning internal practices was itself an act of reform and warned against the growth of entrenched groups within the party. He urged delegates to ignore rumours circulating outside the convention hall and to respect the mandate emerging from the gathering.

While the Special General Convention continued, leaders from both factions remained busy holding meetings to avert a split in the party. The establishment faction that initially undermined the move of the two general secretaries, Thapa and Sharma, started parleys after over 60 per cent of the convention delegates arrived in Kathmandu to attend the Special General Convention.

 The two factions formed separate talks teams to reach a conclusion. However, by the time this report was filed, the talks had not made progress. Pradeep Paudel, Gururaj Ghimire, Madhu Acharya and Devraj Chalise are on the talks team from the pro-special convention group, and Bal Krishna Khand, Ramesh Lekhak, Minendra Rijal, and Jiwan Pariyar are from the establishment faction. The team met twice but failed to reach an agreement, particularly on the leadership change issue.

Party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, meanwhile, stressed the need for consensus, according to spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat. Mahat said the leadership was engaged in talks to avoid divisions, arguing that unity was essential for strengthening both the party and the country. 

Discussions within the central working committee were temporarily postponed as negotiations continued, and the meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, Senior leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala held discussions with close central members, district presidents and senior advocates, reaffirming his commitment to party unity. He said he was in continuous dialogue with all factions to prevent any split, describing his efforts as a last-ditch attempt to preserve unity. 

Koirala said he had urged the party president, acting president and general secretaries to ensure the party does not divide, and asked cadres not to lose confidence. Legal experts present said only the Central Working Committee can call a special general convention. Participants urged Koirala to mediate and unite the party.

The election committee announced that nominations for central leadership posts, with voting scheduled for Wednesday. Elections will be held for 134 positions, including the president, vice presidents, general secretaries and central members, in line with the existing statute. A total of 4,638 voters have been registered for the special general convention, although only about 63 per cent of eligible delegates are participating.

Meanwhile, the Central Working Committee meeting could not convene at party office as planned on Tuesday. As leaders remained busy in talks, vice president Dhanraj Gurung led a brief meeting deciding to hold another meeting on Wednesday morning.