The two rival camps in the Nepali Congress are digging in their heels over the dates of the 15th general convention after party president Sher Bahadur Deuba reportedly told a group of senior leaders that he wants to hold the convention only after the general elections in 2027.

Deuba was elected the party president from 14th general convention in December 2021 by beating Shekhar Koirala, who leads the rival camp.

The four-year term of the incumbent committees from the centre to the ward levels expires by the end of December, as per the party charter.

Article 269 of the Constitution of Nepal makes it mandatory to hold a party’s general convention, from the federal and provincial to local levels, within five years. In case of special circumstances, the constitution allows an extension of six months. Based on this provision, the Congress can have its general convention latest by mid-2027.

Some leaders have even come up with the idea of holding the convention after the general elections in November 2027. They argue that merging a small political party with the Nepali Congress will allow the Congress to further delay the convention.

After a party merger, some procedures need to be completed with the Election Commission. This can delay the convention, said a Congress leader. Then the Congress will be registered as a new party but there is no clear provision on this in the Political Party Act or any other law.

Deuba’s plan to delay the convention by two years, which is generally unconstitutional and against the party charter, has created ripples in the country’s largest party. The Deuba-led establishment camp commands a strong majority from the central working committee to the committees down to the local level.

During a meeting with 11 senior party leaders at his residence a week ago, Deuba had indicated that the convention might be organised after the general election.

But the Koirala camp challenges his plan. As per the party statute, the Congress has to organise the general convention by December this year.

“We have no special circumstances to delay the convention,” said Jeevan Pariyar, a joint general secretary of the party. “We have held the convention even during difficult times like the Covid pandemic. So why not now?”

Leaders close to Deuba said that he wants the delay in order to distribute tickets to the party’s candidates in the general elections as the party chief, thereby continuing to hold a sway over the party.

Deuba loyalists argue that the party president is concerned that if a general convention is held just before the elections, the rivalry in the party might reflect in the national elections, damaging the party’s electoral prospects. Hence, he wants to prevent incidents of ‘sabotage and counter-sabotage’ within the party, said a leader.

There has been no official statement about the plan to delay the convention, according to Pariyar, a close confidant of Shekhar Koirala. “The general convention should be held by December 2025 as per the party charter. As that is not going to happen, it should be held at least before December 2026 to meet the constitutional obligation.”

But leaders close to Deuba said that if a general convention is held in 2026, it could affect the outcome of the local elections scheduled for May 2027.

There is another reason why Deuba wants to delay the event. As per an agreement between the Congress and the CPN-UML, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will hand over the government’s reins to Deuba after serving for two years. Deuba wants to remain the party chief when Oli vacates the PM’s chair for the Congress after one and a half years from now.

As per the arrangement, Deuba will lead the country into the elections as prime minister.

“The agreement categorically says Congress President Deuba will be prime minister after Oli completes his two-year term,” said a Congress leader, about the deal between the Congress and the UML forged before the Oli government was formed in July last year.

“But if the general convention is held by December 2025, someone other than Deuba will be appointed party president. This means the new party president might not be the prime minister. In that case, the UML could seize the moment and sow confusion [in the Congress].”

The Congress statute only permits a leader to head the party for two terms.

Some Congress leaders such as Shashank Koirala support Deuba’s idea. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh said the Congress has never organised its general convention on time as stated in the party charter since the restoration of democracy in 1990.

“However, we will try to conclude the party’s general convention as per the legal requirements,” said Singh. “As a political party, Nepali Congress will certainly follow the constitutional provision as well as the party charter.”

Singh is now considered close to Deuba and is looking for his support to contest the post of party president in the upcoming general convention.

But Shekhar Koirala and leaders close to him are piling pressure on the establishment for a timely convention. “Further delay will weaken the party,” Koirala said on Saturday, addressing an event. “We should all put pressure on the party leadership to convene it on time.”

Shyam Ghimire, a leader close to Deuba, said that matters like delaying the general convention were being discussed only in informal conversations.

“This issue has never been discussed formally but the general convention will be held by December 2026 as per the constitution and the party charter,” Ghimire said.