KATHMANDU, Jan 12: Thousands of enthusiastic cadres of Nepali Congress (NC) from across the country gathered at Bhrikuti Mandap on Sunday for the party’s second Special General Convention, defying warnings from top party leadership and heightening fears of a historic internal rupture.
Organizers say more than 62 percent of convention delegates have signed in for the event, signaling strong support for the special convention backed by General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma. The special convention was demanded by above 54 per cent of the convention delegates following the Gen Z protest.
The convention, taking place against the backdrop of deep internal division, reflects growing demands for generational change and ideological realignment within the party. Many participants that Republica talked with during the event said the gathering represents a growing desire among grassroots members for leadership renewal rather than a mere factional contest.
The event unfolded despite stern warnings from party President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka directing members not to attend the convention and to prioritize unity ahead of the March 5 general elections. Establishment leaders, including NC Spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, have repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of the signature campaign backing the special convention.
Special general convention of the party will be held after elec...
Speakers at today’s gathering called on senior leaders to join the convention and turn it into a defining moment in the party’s history.
Meanwhile, speakers of the Special General Coinvention requested top leaders of the party to join the event on the second day and make it a milestone event in the party’s history. Many speakers took the opportunity to criticize President Deuba for his inaction and denying the call of its cadres.
Dr. Chandra Bhandari was the most vocal critic of Deuba, accusing him of indulging in a culture of luxury. He said that even a ruler labeled “autocratic” had relinquished power with ease, while today’s democratic leaders require helicopters and heavy security for protection.
“King Gyanendra invited us to the palace, handed over the royal insignia and crown, wished us well and left smiling, driving his own car,” Bhandari said. “But what about our leaders? They need helicopters to be kept safe. Is that democracy?”
Former NC Vice President Gopal Man Shrestha, who was once considered a close ally of Deuba, asserted that he did not attend the program to demand any position.
Shrestha emphasized the importance of following party statutes as imperative for the party’s functioning. He opined that the party must now reform, “The party must now change. Leadership must be entrusted to the new generation. If the Nepali Congress weakens, the country’s democracy weakens. That is why we must be ready to make any sacrifice.”
Nepali Congress Baitadi district president Chatur Bahadur Chand, who is also the President of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), said during the function that the NC had been in a state of “coma” for the past four months and was revived by the convention.
“After the Gen Z movement, the NC was pushed down and dragged along, but bringing the party to this point required great courage,” Chand said. “I would like to thank everyone who made efforts to awaken the NC that was in a coma by providing it with life support.”
