Kathmandu- Internal tensions within the Nepali Congress have intensified as party General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma move toward convening a Special General Convention, concluding that the party’s 15th regular general convention cannot be held within the scheduled timeframe.
The regular general convention was slated for January 9–11 (Poush 26–28), but party leaders now say the required preparatory processes—including ward-level conventions—have not progressed, making it impossible to hold the convention on time. In response, the two general secretaries issued a joint statement on Thursday explaining the rationale for initiating a Special General Convention.
According to the statement, the failure to revise and implement the convention schedule from January 9 onward rendered the entire timetable ineffective. The general secretaries said they were compelled to issue the statement to address growing confusion and uncertainty within the party.
Leaders backing the Special General Convention have accelerated preparations to hold it from January 10 to 12 (Poush 27–29) at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. Central Committee member Madhu Acharya said preparations are underway, including the formation of necessary convention committees. He added that General Secretary Gagan Thapa has already begun drafting the political report to be presented at the convention. Supporters of the move are also planning a press conference on Friday to formally brief the media.
Under the Nepali Congress statute, a Special General Convention must be convened if the Central Committee deems it necessary or if at least 40 percent of general convention representatives submit a written request. Although such a request has already been registered at the party’s central office, the Central Committee has not taken steps to convene the convention, prompting the general secretaries to move forward themselves.
The two general secretaries are expected to write to party president Sher Bahadur Deuba on Friday, requesting him to convene and chair the Special General Convention. According to leaders involved in the process, if the party president fails to act, the general secretaries will proceed with convening the convention as provided by the party statute.
Legal experts have previously advised that if the party president does not convene the convention, the statute grants the authority to do so to the general secretaries. The party statute places the central office under the jurisdiction of the general secretaries and allows the Special General Convention to be convened through the “centre,” which is interpreted as the central office.
Senior advocate Yadunath Khanal cited Clauses 3(12) and 27(1) of the party statute, stating that the general secretaries have a clear legal mandate to convene a Special General Convention.
“The demand for a Special General Convention is submitted to the centre, which refers to the central office. Since the central office functions under the authority of the general secretaries, the statute clearly empowers them to convene the Special General Convention,” Khanal said.
General Secretary Bishwaprakash Sharma remarked that the closure of the door to a regular general convention effectively amounts to knocking on the door of a special one. He said the process would move forward in accordance with Article 17(2) of the party statute.
So far, 2,488 general convention representatives have signed in support of the demand for a Special General Convention, and supporters claim the number will increase further. Leaders say dissatisfaction over a possible Nepali Congress–CPN-UML electoral alliance, concerns over ticket distribution, and the confirmation that a regular convention will not be held have fueled growing support.
However, leaders from both the establishment faction and the non-establishment camp, including Dr. Shekhar Koirala, have opposed the Special General Convention, arguing that it could lead to a split in the party. Proponents counter that if convening a Special General Convention under a provision explicitly enshrined in the party statute results in a split, the rationale for including such a provision in the statute itself must be questioned.
The two general secretaries maintain that a Special General Convention convened through a Central Committee decision would be beyond dispute and have pledged to pursue the process with maximum consensus.
Their joint statement concludes:
“The primary option to address the demand for a Special General Convention—submitted to the central office with the signatures of 54 percent of general convention representatives—was to hold the regular general convention. However, when it became evident that the regular convention could not be held within the stipulated time, the Special General Convention emerged once again as the only viable alternative.”
