After over two months of debate, deliberation and dispute, the Nepali Congress has finally decided to hold its 15th general convention from January 10 to 12 in Kathmandu.

Triggered by the September 8-9 Gen Z movement, the party had officially started discussions from October 14 on when and how to convene the convention. As in other parties, a debate ensued in the Nepali Congress over leadership change and overhaul of the party.

A meeting of the party’s central working committee on Monday unanimously decided to hold the 15th general convention and also approved the schedule for it, according to a statement issued by the party.

The committee also decided to extend the term of the current central working committee until mid-February.

The current term and mandate of all elected bodies of the party, including the central working committee, was set to expire by mid-December. Party spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat said that the term of the current working committee will end on December 9 [one day before the 14th convention that had begun on December 10, 2021], and the 15th General Convention will be held from January 10 to 12 in Kathmandu.

The 14th general convention was convened in Kathmandu in December 2021, during which former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was elected party president.

As per the party charter, the term and mandate of all elected bodies of the Congress is four years but can be extended for a year if there is a need to do so.

During Monday’s central working committee meeting, acting party president Purna Bahadur Khadka presented a schedule and timeline for the 15th general convention, starting from December 31 at ward and city levels.

During the Gen Z protests, which turned violent after unarmed youths were gunned down by police on September 8, Deuba along with his wife were attacked by an angry mob at their home on September 9, leaving both injured.

In the central committee meeting on October 14, Deuba entrusted the role of acting party president to Khadka and left for Singapore for treatment on November 14. After October 14, the party continued debating whether to hold the regular 15th convention or a special convention as demanded by 54 percent elected representatives—and whether it should take place before or after the March 5 elections.

On one side, 54 percent elected representatives of the party demanded a special convention if the regular one could not be held. Party general secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishaw Prakash Sharma, and leader Shekhar Koirala demanded a special convention before the March 5 elections. On the other side, a large number of the party’s central committee members from Deuba’s camp were in favour of a regular convention after the elections.

Due to the divergent views and hard positions in both camps, Khadka was unable to find middle ground. The two camps organised separate gatherings and meetings in order to pile pressure, causing the party to defer the central working committee meetings several times.

Seven leaders—Gopalman Shrestha, Prakash Man Singh, Bimalendra Nidhi, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Shashanka Koirala, Prakash Sharan Mahat and Bijay Kumar Gachhadar—were against holding the convention before the elections. But 26 central working committee members close to Deuba also joined the dissidents in demanding that the general convention be held before the parliamentary elections.

On November 14, Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, returned from Singapore. Deuba, quite aware about ground realities, started discussions with former and present office bearers of the party, mainly those opposed to holding the convention before the elections.

“Deuba mostly engaged with Nidhi and Sitaula, who were dead against holding the party convention before the elections. Deuba was also against holding the special convention, which he thought would divide the party. That is why Deuba engaged his own camp,” a Congress leader told the Post.

The unanimous decision came after Deuba was able to convince both Nidhi and Sitaula, the leader added.

On Monday, Deuba called a meeting of his camp, including Nidhi and Situala, and instructed them to agree on the new timetable that ensures the convention prior to the elections.

A leader present at the meeting said Deuba emphasised the importance of passing the schedule unanimously to prevent divisions in the party. “We shared our views, but after Deuba’s directive, we agreed to unanimously pass the schedule,” the leader told the Post.

Meanwhile, General Secretary Sharma stated that if the regular general convention cannot be held on January 10, a special general convention will be necessary. Speaking to the media after the central committee meeting, Sharma said that if there are attempts to delay the regular general convention, it will result in a special general convention.

He also suggested that the signatures collected demanding a special general convention will be kept safe at the central office, as they are still valid. He added that since Deuba had already announced his intention to retire during the 15th general convention, the president should not be involved in a special convention.

In addition to preparations for the regular general convention, Sharma emphasized the need to prepare for elections.

But party spokesperson Mahat has stated that as the schedule for the regular general convention is set, the demand for a special general convention has effectively become inactive. “There was no reason to suspect, but still, they had concerns. Now that the convention is set, the demand for a special general convention has no justification,” he told the media.

On October 15, 54 percent of the Congress general convention delegates had submitted signatures to the acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka demanding a special general convention.