Central members close to Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba are set to engage in internal discussions today. Deuba-aligned central committee members are meeting in Baneshwor to hold internal consultations ahead of the Central Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 2 PM.
The group aims to finalize its strategy before the main meeting. Central member Guru Baral said members are preparing to meet at 11 AM this morning for discussions. “The Central Committee meeting is taking place tomorrow, and we are conducting internal consultations today.
Such discussions have been ongoing for some time,” he said. They also held a meeting last Saturday, attended by around 80 central members. The Nepali Congress Central Committee has 168 members, though 25 members close to Deuba were absent from that gathering. Office-bearers and former office-bearers will not participate in today’s internal meeting.
Central Committee Meeting and Informal Consultations Continue
The Central Committee meeting had begun on Asoj 28, during which leaders expressed their views on various issues. Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka had paused the meeting for informal consultations, saying decisions—including those related to the General Convention—should be made unanimously. President Deuba has also been holding informal talks with party leaders, emphasizing that the party should move forward with unity.
Debate Over Timing of General Convention Intensifies
Members advocating for a Special General Convention have continued pressure programs. With 54 percent of General Convention representatives calling for the Special General Convention process to begin, they are preparing to submit a memorandum to the Acting President and to stage a protest at the party headquarters.
The Congress is currently debating whether to hold the General Convention before or after the March 21 election, and whether it should be a regular or special convention. Some office-bearers, former office-bearers, and around 80 central members aligned with Deuba support holding the convention after the election, while 25 central members prefer holding it beforehand.
General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma, along with leader Shekhar Koirala, insist that the regular 15th General Convention must be held within Poush. If that is not possible, they argue that the party should move toward a Special General Convention. Koirala has stated that if the convention is not held within Poush, the Central Committee must unanimously decide to proceed with a Special General Convention.
