On Monday, a Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress decided to hold the party's 15th general convention on January 10–12.

The decision was reached after 45 days of intense debate, discord and discussion between the multiple camps and groups of the party. But there is plenty of doubt and confusion over whether the party will be able to hold the convention on schedule owing to time constraints.

Hours after the decision was announced, the dispute in the Congress resurfaced, raising questions whether the party will hold its convention on January 10 or will go for a special convention if a regular one is not possible as planned.

As many as 54 percent elected representatives to the general convention have already submitted signatures to the party headquarters demanding a special convention.

The establishment faction, led by party chief Sher Bahadur Deuba, has already ruled out holding a special convention since the party has decided to go for a regular convention in the second week of January.

But leaders close to general secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma have said that if the party fails to hold a regular convention in January, the process of special convention will begin.

Sensing that some former office bearers and leaders close to Deuba could create obstacles and derail the process, Thapa has called a meeting for settling the dispute over active membership of the party for Wednesday, said a Congress leader.

As soon as the central committee meeting concluded after endorsing the time table for the 15th general convention, Thapa tabled his reservation that if the party failed to hold the regular convention by January 10, the process of holding a special convention would automatically activate.

If for any reason or intention the 15th general convention cannot be held by the middle of January, “then we don’t need to wait further”, said Thapa, clearly indicating that the process of summoning the special convention will begin.

“We must make a decision at an appropriate time by mid-January itself and move towards holding a special general convention,” Thapa said in his proposal.

Thapa also states that he will work sincerely to implement the schedule, stressing that it is necessary to complete the convention before the March 5 House of Representatives election for the greater interest of the party.

“If the regular general convention cannot take place, there is no alternative to holding a special general convention,” Thapa said.

The timetable to complete the convention was tightened at the central committee. This has created doubts over the conclusion of the convention on January 12.

On Tuesday, Congress leader Shashank Koirala said there was not enough time for the general convention.

Speaking to journalists in Chitwan, the former general secretary said at least three months is required to complete the general convention.

“There is little time. If holding the general convention from January 10 to 12 is not possible, then it will have to be held after the election,” he said.

Although the party has decided to hold the convention from January 10 to 12, if it’s feasible is not certain, Koirala added.

However, he called on all Congress members to focus on preparing for the general convention. He even called for Gen Z’s inclusion in the convention process.

Not only party leaders but those who submitted their signatures demanding a special convention also raised concerns over the success of the general convention by January 12.

Those demanding a special convention have issued an appeal after the central committee decided on the convention, raising more questions.

Supporters of the special convention said on Tuesday that “whether the intention is to weaken the special general convention or to actually hold it—the sequence of events will show”.

“We view the announcement of the schedule for the 15th general convention, made under the pressure of signatures demanding a special general convention, as an achievement. Was this announcement made to neutralise the special general convention? Or is there a genuine intent to hold the convention? Time will tell,” the appeal states.

They argue that the schedule for the general convention is unscientific. “The schedule proposed for different phases and for various structures of the party appears, at first glance, to be impractical and unscientific,” they stated.

Their appeal also notes that if the series of conventions from the districts to the centre is obstructed, the proposal for a special one remains valid and implementable.

“If, under any pretext or circumstance, the chain of conventions is obstructed or halted, the proposal for a special general convention registered on October 14 is still alive and fully implementable as per the party statute,” they claim.

They further argue that the extension of the term of the Central Working Committee led by Deuba—elected from the 14th convention—till the end of January fuels doubts that the convention will not happen on time.