Eleven leaders of Nepali Congress, who helped Sher Bahadur Deuba to become the president through the 14th General Convention, have recently urged the party president to pick one among themselves as a presidential candidate for the 15th General Convention.
Instead of directly addressing the demands of his loyalists, Deuba proposed a one-year extension of the Central Working Committee's (CWC) tenure. He floated this proposal citing the seven-point agreement reached between Nepali Congress and CPN (UML).
The fourth point of the agreement states, "UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli will lead the government for two years from the formation of the national consensus government while Deuba will lead it until the general elections scheduled to be held in the Nepali month Mangsir, 2084 BS.
According to the agreement, Prime Minister Oli will take charge of the government until July 13, 2026 and the rest of the term will be led by Deuba. Deuba argued that if the General Convention were held prior to this, he would not be able to become the Prime Minister as per the party statute.
Deuba said, "I was in favor of holding the general convention within 2082 (BS). However, according to the seven-point agreement, the NC will only get to lead the government after about a year and a half. The seven-point agreement states that I will lead the government after Oli. After the general convention, I will neither be the president nor will my chances of becoming prime minister be high."
The 11 leaders, following the meeting with Deuba, agreed to make preparations from Shrawan 2083 BS. To begin with the General Convention from Shrawan 2083 BS, the CWC's tenure has to be extended by one year.
Article 43 of the NC's Party Statute 2017 states, "The terms of all party office-bearers and members will be four years. The CWC can extend the term for a year by the CWC if necessary.
NC Spokesperson Dr. Prakash Saran Mahat ruled out the possibility of holding the General Convention within 2082 BS.
"The tenure of the CWC will be extended by one year since the 15th General Convention cannot be held within 2082 BS," Dr Mahat said in a press meet organized by Chitwan Press Union on February 15.
Talking to journalists in Pokhara on February 20, Dr Shekhar Koirala also said that the tenure of the incumbent CWC can be extended by one and a half years as per the party statute.
Echoing to Koirala, talking to journalists in Biratnagar on Friday, General Secretary Gagan Thapa said that the term of the party office-bearers and members is four years and it can be extended by one year, if need be, as per the party statue.
Even though Thapa was elected as the General Secretary from the Koirala faction in the 14th General Convention, he has become close to Deuba, of late, say NC leaders. However, Thapa has not attended any meetings called by the establishment faction, so far.
The establishment faction has extend the tenure of the CWC as per its wish as it holds 82 percent of seats in the committee.
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