Unilateral Leadership Makes Inclusive Party Participation in 15th General Convention Impossible, Say External Nepali Congress Group

A faction outside the founding body of the Nepali Congress has concluded that the leadership chosen through the special general convention makes it impossible to ensure respectful participation of all party ranks in the upcoming 15th general convention. This group has demanded a party unity campaign across all levels, in accordance with the revised constitution from the 14th general convention, to build party unity and strengthen the Congress.

The group has criticized the special general convention for creating internal disputes and held it and its leadership chiefly responsible for the party’s defeat in the election held on 21st Falgun (early March).

Kathmandu, 17th Baisakh – An external group within Nepali Congress has concluded that it is unfeasible for the current leadership to ensure honorable and inclusive participation of the entire party in the 15th general convention. This decision came after a two-day meeting held at Hotel Smart in Dhumbarahi. The meeting, conducted under the leadership of the recently elected acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka, emphasized the need for common structures to convene a unity-based general convention.

According to the press release issued on Thursday, “The leadership elected through the so-called special general convention, attended solely by one-sided delegates, makes it impossible to guarantee respectful participation and fair elections in the 15th general convention. Therefore, common agreed-upon structures are essential for a broad national unity convention.” The statement further calls for a party unity campaign at all levels to build a unified and robust Congress, in line with the amended party constitution.

The group outside the founding body also stressed the need to update the membership roster, including those who have left the party, are subject to disciplinary action, have passed away, or wish to resign, and to renew the memberships of active members who were missed in the renewal process. They emphasized that membership renewal and distribution are normal and necessary procedures.

The press release pointed out that, per party guidelines, membership renewal and distribution have nearly concluded as scheduled for the 15th general convention, making it inappropriate and malicious to delete old memberships and re-register under new names. “We appeal to all responsible party levels to refrain from and prevent such activities,” said outgoing acting president Khadka.

Khadka recalled Congress’s historic struggle and advocacy for citizens’ personal freedom, political liberty, and freedom of expression. He also stated that targeting certain party leaders for their expressed views with biased inquiries and disciplinary threats is inappropriate, urging an immediate halt to such authoritarian tendencies and a firm resolve to prevent their recurrence.

According to the conclusion by this external group, the forced unilateral organization of a special general convention is the major source of discord. They held the leaders responsible for organizing that convention accountable for the electoral defeat on 21st Falgun. The group emphasized that only a united and strong Congress can effectively engage in dialogue and cooperation with other parties and national forces to safeguard national independence, citizen rights, and the federal inclusive democratic republic system.

The meeting also demanded from the government comprehensive market monitoring and price control measures, special exemptions, subsidies, and relief policies on essential commodities like fuel to ease daily life for the public. The two-day gathering, convened under the call of acting president Khadka, included central committee members, district chairpersons, and regional leaders from the outgoing president Sher Bahadur Deuba’s faction.