Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba's whereabouts and condition have not been officially disclosed since the September 9 Gen Z protests.
On that day, his Budhanilkantha residence was vandalized and burned and he and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, were brutally assaulted and injured. The party confirmed Deuba suffered a deep head injury that required stitches, according to Min Bahadur Bishwakarma, the NC's publicity department head.
Deuba is currently recuperating, although he still reports feeling weak occasionally. The attack has intensified the discourse within the NC about a leadership change, with General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa pushing for immediate action.
The CC meeting and Deuba's options
The NC Central Committee meeting is scheduled for October 12 to determine the party's future strategy. There is strong internal pressure for Deuba to step down by appointing an acting party president.
Bishwakarma stated that Deuba is mulling two main options with party leaders:
- Appointing an acting president and taking a rest.
- Holding the 15th General Convention soon under his leadership without appointing an acting president.
Deuba is reportedly convinced he should appoint an acting head but is unwilling to do so under the current pressure, which he perceives as senior leaders unfairly blaming him for all the party's shortcomings. There are also internal divisions regarding who would be the acting president, with some suggesting Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka.
Signature campaign for special general convention
Ahead of the CC meeting, a group led by General Secretary Gagan Thapa is prepared to submit a petition with signatures from over 40% of the General Convention representatives if Deuba does not agree to appoint an acting president.
This move aims to either secure the removal of Deuba from the presidency or guarantee a special or regular General Convention.
Non-establishment faction intensifies meetings
Leaders calling for Deuba's removal, including Dr. Shekhar Koirala and General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, are engaging in continuous dialogues. Koirala and Thapa reportedly agreed on holding the regular General Convention by December-end, and Thapa informed Koirala of his plan to present the 40% plus signatures at the upcoming CC meeting. Sharma is also insisting on an immediate leadership change.
Political analyst Puranjan Acharya suggests the optimal solution for party unity for Deuba is to propose a General Convention Organizing Committee at the October 12 meeting by dissolving the incumbent CC. Failure to do so, he warns, could lead to further instability, with those seeking Deuba's replacement potentially splitting the party.
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