The second special general convention of the Nepali Congress is set to kick off at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu on Sunday. The convention, called by the party’s general secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, is being held amid a deepening crisis in the party.

The special convention organising committee has extended invitations to party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka and other office bearers. But Deuba has refused to be a part of the convention despite the suggestion from some leaders that the party chief make it a “convention of consensus”.

One of the senior-most elected representatives to the general convention will inaugurate the special convention, said Manojmani Acharya, a member of the organising committee. Gopalman Shrestha, former vice-president of the party, or Omkar Shrestha is likely to chair the inaugural session.

But the establishment faction led by Deuba, which is against the convention, has urged party leaders to halt the process.

“As we have to focus on the parliamentary elections scheduled for March, the process of the party’s special convention should be put on hold,” said Prakash Sharan Mahat, the Congress spokesman and a close aide to Deuba.

Thapa and Sharma called the special convention as demanded by the party’s 2,488 (or over 54 percent) elected representatives. But the establishment faction refused to call the special convention, arguing that such a gathering would split the party. The party leadership instead decided to organise the 15th general convention in May.

However, Thapa and Sharma were adamant on the party’s leadership change before the March election. After two general secretaries called the special convention, the establishment faction kept trying to scuttle their bid.

On Saturday also, party presidents of four dozen district chapters issued a statement and opposed the special convention, which they said was being organised by bypassing the party’s central committee.

But, still, over 60 percent of elected delegates are going to participate in the special convention, said leader Subas Pokharel at a press conference on Saturday.

“We are committed to ensuring that the party will not split only due to the special convention,” Pokharel said.

Senior party leaders have reportedly been holding intense discussions on how to respond to the holding of the special convention as pressure mounts on Deuba to take a decisive step.

In this connection, Deuba went to meet President Ramchandra Paudel, a former Congress leader, on Saturday afternoon and discussed possible settlement of the intra-party dispute.

Deuba also held an hours-long meeting with another Congress leader Shekhar Koirala. It was after the meeting between Deuba and Koirala that four dozen Congress district presidents issued a joint statement denouncing the special convention as going against the party charter.

Deuba and Koirala discussed the possible ramifications of the special convention and whether the convention will announce a new leadership, said a Congress leader.

It is as yet unclear if the special convention will indeed elect new party leadership.

“They [Deuba and Koirala] were also worried about the risk of the special convention leading to party split,” the leader said.

Other leaders have tried to find a middle ground between Deuba and two general secretaries.

Two Congress leaders Chandra Bhandari and Sunil Sharma, both of whom are in favour of the special convention, held a press conference on Saturday and stated that they are in favour of party unity and in touch with both factions so that the party will remain intact.

According to leaders close to Thapa, the special convention will propose some policy changes in the constitution, on corruption control and stress good governance. Thapa will table a new political document at the special convention. He will also address the issues raised by the Gen Z leaders and campaigners.

Thapa’s political document will focus on the party’s transformation and will propose a new political doctrine, according to multiple leaders close to him.

According to Sharma, they are trying to turn the special convention into a “resolution assembly” in order to save party unity.

There have also been calls on Deuba to take action against those who summoned the special convention.

But according to the interlocutors who are trying to bridge the gap between Deuba and the Thapa-Sharma camp, the party chief is unlikely to take action against the two general secretaries or their supporters.