KATHMANDU, Jan 10: Nepali Congress (NC) Spokesperson Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has reiterated the establishment faction’s firm position against holding a special general convention, saying the signature campaign is neither legally nor practically appropriate at this juncture.
Speaking to journalists at the party’s central office on Saturday, Mahat said the NC had already taken a formal decision to hold its regular general convention. As conducting the convention within the original timeframe was not feasible, he noted, the party had endorsed a revised schedule. He urged the decision must be respected by all, particularly by party office-bearers responsible for its implementation.
“The party has already made a decision to hold a regular convention and has approved a revised timetable because it could not be completed on time,” Mahat said. “That decision is binding on all of us. In this context, a special convention is not justified from either a legal or a practical standpoint, and participation in such a convention would be inappropriate.”
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On October 15 last year, 2,488 general convention delegates—about 54.58 percent of the total—submitted a petition to Acting NC President Purna Bahadur Khadka demanding a Special General Convention. The demand followed the September 8–9 Gen Z–led protests that led to the fall of the NC-backed Oli government.
Under Article 17(2) of the party statute, a Special General Convention must be convened within three months if at least 40 percent of delegates formally demand it.
Dr Mahat emphasized the need to channel the party’s entire energy toward the general elections. He said that discussions around a special general convention should be put on hold immediately.
He called on the party to move forward with a clear electoral agenda and in line with the sentiments of its grassroots workers, stressing that this was not a moment for internal division. The party has scheduled the regular general convention from May 11–14.
“At this point, we must unite rather than fragment,” Mahat said. “All our strength should be directed toward the general elections. Policy proposals should be endorsed through the central committee, and the party should go to the polls as a cohesive force.”
