At a time when other parties have stepped up election preparations, the grand old party Nepali Congress has plunged into a cycle of crisis and ambiguity over holding its general convention.

The party had started discussions on leadership change as per the mandate of the Gen Z movement and convened meetings of the central working committee and central work execution committee, and also held rounds of discussion at different levels.

But the Congress has yet to reach a decision on the party convention. Earlier, the party had planned to hold its 15th general convention from January 10 t0 12, but due to time constraints and disputes, the timetable to hold lower level party conventions has been affected. Now, the debate over calling a special general convention has resurfaced, as regular convention by January 10 is increasingly unlikely.

On Wednesday, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa declared on social media that the party would convene a special convention and informed party ranks that preparations are underway to organise it by mid-January. But his call is not free from controversy.

“Holding a special convention is not only mandatory under the party’s constitution, but it has also become essential for unity and confidence of the party,” Thapa wrote on social media. “Building a Congress capable of fulfilling its responsibilities to the nation is the collective responsibility of every Congress member today. Therefore, we are moving forward with plans to call for a special convention by mid of January to fulfill this responsibility.”

Thapa’s plan to call a special convention is backed by another general secretary, Bishwa Prakash Sharma, but it is not a unanimous proposal.

In October, as many as 54 percent of elected representatives of the Congress had submitted a memorandum at party headquarters demanding a special convention. Later, when the party decided to hold the regular convention, the idea of a special convention was put on hold.

Now the agenda pushed by the Thapa-Sharma camp has triggered a new debate in the Congress. Party chief Sher Bahadur Deuba is against the idea of holding the special convention. He has publicly said that a special convention would split the party and had earlier advised proceeding with regular convention.

As per the Congress party charter, if the central committee deems it necessary, or if 40 percent of general convention representatives submit a written request, a special general convention must be called.

But there is strong reservation among Congress leaders regarding a special convention. “It is not going to provide a solution,” said Sanjay Gautam, a leader and former member of parliament, adding that it also carries a risk of splitting the party.

“[General secretaries] Gagan [Thapa] and Bishwa [Prakash Sharma] are not individual persons. They are institutions of the party. So, while making any decision, they have to be careful and mindful of what the entire rank and file of the party thinks,” said Gautam, who is considered close to leader Shekhar Koirala, a dissident in the party.

On October 15, a total of 2,488 elected representatives of the Congress had submitted a memorandum at party headquarters demanding a special convention. But there is no clarity on how such a convention would be called or conducted. “What if the remaining 46 percent of elected representatives skipped the convention?” a Congress leader from the Deuba camp asked, adding that calling a special convention carries more risk than it is an advantage for General Secretary Thapa himself.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, party president Deuba said that since the schedule for the regular general convention has already been set, discussion about a special convention is meaningless.

“If it goes to a special general convention, the process to be followed is unclear. How will it be done, and how long will it take to verify the details of those requesting it? Therefore, it is not possible,” he said.

On Wednesday evening, those in favour of a special convention held a gathering in Kathmandu and decided to press ahead with the proposal.

“We are committed to summoning the special convention,” said Ajay Babu Siwakoti, a central committee member. “We will sit with both general secretaries and chart out a future course.”