Nepali Congress 15th General Convention: How Will the Establishment and Deuba Factions Reconcile?

12 Chaitra, Kathmandu. Five days after the social media ban imposed by the KP Sharma Oli government, on 23 Bhadra, the Navayuva Group staged protests opposing the ban.

During the protests, on 24 Bhadra, demonstrators launched a violent attack on then Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba and former Foreign Minister Dr. Arju Rana Deuba at their residence in Budhanilkantha.

The protesters also caused damage and set fire to Deuba’s residence. On the 36th day after the attack, 28 Asoj, former Prime Minister Deuba appeared publicly for the first time at a Central Working Committee meeting.

Addressing the meeting, he announced that Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka would be assigned the responsibilities of acting president. Deuba also expressed his readiness to transfer party leadership.

He committed to formally handing over leadership through the 15th general convention. Deuba expressed confidence that the Central Working Committee would seriously deliberate and make necessary decisions to conduct the convention within the stipulated timeframe.

Under acting president Khadka’s chairmanship, the Congress held a Central Working Committee meeting for a historic 49 days. However, consensus over the 15th general convention remained unattained within the party.

After the election of the House of Representatives, the then establishment faction and the Gagan Thapa group, the former General Secretary, conflicted over whether a regular general convention should be held before the polls. Meanwhile, Deuba had returned from treatment in Singapore.

During the committee meeting, the Thapa faction accused Deuba of increasing activities within the party as chairman. When the possibility of a regular convention seemed unlikely, the faction organized a special general convention in the last week of Poush.

Held at Bhrikuti Mandap in Exhibition Road, the special general convention dissolved the Central Working Committee elected at the 14th general convention and selected a new committee under Thapa’s leadership.

Earlier, at a Central Working Committee meeting in Sanepa, the then committee had sanctioned General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma along with Co-General Secretary Farmullah Mansur by stripping them of all positions, including regular membership.

The Congress dispute escalated to the Election Commission. The Commission recognized the committee elected through the special convention. The dissatisfied Deuba faction took the matter to the Supreme Court.

While the official status issue remains under judicial consideration, Congress contended in the House of Representatives elections on 21 Falgun. The party failed to achieve the expected results.

Following the electoral defeat, Thapa, taking moral responsibility as president, resigned on 3 Chaitra. However, Congress convened a Central Working Committee meeting on 6 Chaitra and decided on 7 Chaitra to reject the resignation.

After the resignation was rejected, President Thapa convened another meeting on 10 Chaitra, which resolved to hold the 15th general convention from Magh 16–19 the next year.

Due to the faction that does not recognize the special general convention, questions have emerged regarding participation in the scheduled convention in Kathmandu. The outgoing president Deuba’s faction has rejected the legitimacy of the special convention.

Deuba Faction: A Unilateral Convention is Not Possible

While the establishment faction has released a timetable for the 15th general convention, other groups have responded that a unilateral convention is untenable. Leaders from other groups stress the necessity of party unity.

Leader Dr. Prakashsharan Mahat said, “Announcing separate conventions will not resolve the issue, so we must wait for the decision on the 22nd. That is essential to unite.”

He emphasized the need for collaborative preparation and shared participation in a regular convention, fostering trust among all members to unify the party.

Leader Min Bishwakarma similarly stated that a unilateral convention is implausible. “Without consensus, this cannot happen,” he asserted.

Indra Baniya, chairperson of Bagmati Province’s Central Working Committee elected in the 14th convention, stressed the importance of progressing with a convention that unites all factions. He suggested seeking a win-win resolution for the ongoing court case before advancing.

According to Baniya, a dialogue between the Central Working Committee elected by the special convention, recognized by the Election Commission, and the outgoing committee is crucial to resolving the dispute.

Krisna Yadav, chairperson of Madhesh Province’s committee from Deuba’s faction, also highlighted the necessity of consensus between both sides.

He stated, “Forming a convention organizing committee would foster ownership among leaders and cadres alike. The dissatisfied leadership must also consider this.”

Yadav expressed confidence that all leaders will unite and move forward. Both Baniya and Yadav currently serve as chief ministers in their provinces.

Outgoing Co-General Secretary Mahendra Yadav called for reconciliation between the leadership elected by the special convention and the existing leadership before moving to the 15th general convention.

He stated, “The party must proceed united. The two factions have to come together. It cannot happen separately. Both need to sit together and decide the way forward. That is my view.”

How Will the Establishment and Deuba Factions Reconcile?

Leaders from both factions have confirmed ongoing efforts to reach an agreement between the leadership recognized by the Election Commission and those who have sought recognition from the courts.

Outgoing Co-General Secretary Yadav said, “We are making initiatives. If Congress does not unite, the country might face the same disasters as in the past.”

Leader Mahat underscored the need to form an organizing committee to find common ground and successfully complete a regular general convention.

He explained, “If the main party factions — those associated and those not associated with the special convention — find common ground, form an organizing committee, and ensure common ownership, the leadership emerging from the regular convention will be universally accepted, paving the way forward.”

Leader Bishwakarma urged top leaders to convene and form a convention preparation committee, emphasizing that the current Central Working Committee need not be dissolved but can be designated as the convention organizing committee, enabling unity.

Outgoing spokesperson Mahat highlighted the necessity of roles at all levels to maintain party unity. “Party officials must contribute to uniting during these challenging times. Every level has a role to play,” he appealed. “Let us each perform our duties at our respective levels.”

He stressed that the party cannot be strong without mental and material unification. “Until we achieve both, the party cannot be strong, especially in today’s challenging environment,” he added.

General Secretary Pradeep Paudel said they are ready to proceed through discussions. “We do not intend to insult or harm senior leaders,” he stated.

Paudel said their sole concern is how to uplift the party, maintain unity, and improve the post-election scenario.

Who Will Take the Initiative for Agreement?

Leader Bishwakarma, in charge of the publicity department under the 14th general convention’s committee, emphasized the need to work for party unity regardless of which faction gains official recognition in court.

He said, “Who will take the initiative? Gagan sir and other senior leaders are in the party office. It would be most appropriate to carry it out there. Responsibility will be apparent if Gagan sir or Bishwaj sir undertake it.”

Leader Mahat said he is ready to contribute toward creating an environment of consensus and rallying around shared principles, but all parties must share the same sentiment.

General Secretary Paudel expressed openness to correcting any procedural reservations concerning progressing toward the convention.

He explained, “The operation of the party is governed by laws and regulations pertaining to political parties. We are advancing within the rules and procedures. If there are any issues with our approach, we are willing to rectify them.”

Leaders from the Deuba faction have suggested returning to the status quo of Poush 30 (mid-January) before the special convention elected new leadership to reach consensus. However, the establishment faction has made it clear that there is no going back.

General Secretary Paudel remarked, “This matter has progressed too far. There is no stopping it now. Let us accompany one another from where the process has reached and move forward jointly. Those leaders contributed to bringing the party this far, and we want to respect that. We seek broad unity within the party and want to conduct the 15th general convention including everyone.”

In a recent discussion, Leader Bishwakarma stated that if both factions return to the point of dispute on Poush 30, the party will unite. “If we revert to the disputed point, the party will be unified.”