The internal dispute within Nepali Congress (NC), the largest democratic party in Nepal, has intensified as General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma intensify preparations to call a Special General Convention by mid-January. Conversely, the party’s establishment faction, led by President Sher Bahadur Deuba, is reportedly planning to extend the term of the current Central Working Committee.
The internal differences arise after the party failed to meet its own deadline. The Central Working Committee on December 1 had scheduled the ward-level conventions for December 31 as part of the 15th General Convention. However, with no progress on the ground, the rival factions are now at loggerheads over the party's future course.
General Secrecies push for a Special Convention
General Secretary Gagan Thapa emphasized that a Special General Convention is necessary to transform NC into a party capable of fulfilling its national responsibilities.
"Building NC that can fulfill its duty toward the nation is the historic responsibility of every worker today," Thapa stated. "Therefore, we have moved forward to call a Special Convention by mid-January. I urge all colleagues to unite and walk this path with determination."
CWC Member Madhu Acharya, a vocal supporter of the move, declared that the "chapter is closed" for the regular convention schedule. He argued that since the leadership failed to adhere to the consensus-backed timeline, the authority must now shift. Acharya noted that if the CWC or the General Secretaries do not formally call the meeting, the disgruntled members will take the initiative themselves.
The legal basis
Under Nepali Congress bylaws, a proposal for a Special General Convention was registered at the party headquarters in Sanepa on October 15. The party constitution mandates that such a convention must be organized within three months of the proposal's registration—a deadline that expires in mid-January.
The establishment faction remains firmly opposed to a Special Convention, citing the upcoming House of Representatives elections as a priority. Leaders close to President Deuba argue that the General Secretaries had previously agreed to a flexible timeline.
The establishment aims to convene a CWC meeting in mid-January to extend its current term by six months.
Under this strategy, the regular 15th General Convention would be pushed back to mid May.
A leader involved in drafting the initial schedule told local media that creating internal "chaos" through a Special Convention is ill-advised while the country is gearing up for elections.
What next?
The divide sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown in mid-January. While Thapa and Sharma rally grassroots support for a leadership shake-up, Deuba’s camp is banking on institutional procedures to maintain the status quo. The outcome will likely determine the ideological and structural direction of Nepal's largest democratic party heading into the next election cycle.
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