Congress Rift Deepens ; Special-Convention Supporters Hold Standalone Gathering

Kathmandu — The dispute over the general convention in Nepali Congress seems to be reaching a peak, as supporters of a special convention held their own separate gathering.

The party’s central-committee meeting, which began on Aswin 28, failed — along with several ensuing informal consultations — to resolve the disagreement over the convention. As a result, the faction backing a special convention convened separately on Wednesday.

Although decisions were taken on many issues, the convention issue remained unresolved. The next central-committee meeting has been called for Thursday at 2 PM. The separate gathering aims to increase pressure ahead of that.

Even after senior officials Gagan Thapa and Bishwprakash Sharma submitted signatures from 54 percent of general-convention delegates demanding a special convention, the establishment wing has still refused to proceed towards either a regular or special general convention — prompting the separate meeting.

According to party bylaws, the four-year term of the 14th general convention — held in Mangsir 2078 (2021) — ended this month. Since the establishment wing has avoided calling a timely convention, Thapa, Sharma, and their allies had pushed for a special convention via signatures. But as their demand remains unmet, they moved ahead with their own meeting