Kathmandu — After weeks of internal debate and political tension, the Nepali Congress, the country’s largest democratic party, has finally reached an agreement to proceed with its regular 15th General Convention.
The Central Working Committee meeting held on Monday decided that the General Convention will take place in Kathmandu from December 11 to 13 (Poush 26–28). The agreement comes after prolonged discussions over whether the convention should be held before or after the national elections scheduled for March 5 (Fagun 21).
For the past one and a half months, the party had been divided between the establishment and rival factions over whether to hold a special or regular convention, and on setting the appropriate timeline. The party believes that the upcoming conventions at ward, district, and provincial levels—along with the distribution of active memberships—will also serve as an opportunity to engage directly with the public.
General Secretary Bishwaprakash Sharma said the consensus marks the beginning of a process to restructure and modernize the party in accordance with the evolving political environment.
He stated, “The Congress now moves ahead with both the General Convention and the election campaign together. We are going among the people with a renewed commitment and message of change.”
Sharma expressed confidence that simultaneous preparation for the convention and elections would help steer the country back onto the constitutional track through democratic processes. He emphasized that the party will work at “war footing” to meet the deadlines set in the convention calendar.
Monday’s meeting, chaired by Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka, also endorsed the decision to extend the tenure of the current Central Committee by two months, as its term was set to expire on December 8 (Mangsir 23). The last (14th) General Convention was held in December 2021.
Active Membership Distribution and Convention Timeline
According to Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Paudel, the party will distribute new active membership forms by December 5 (Mangsir 20).
By December 9 (Mangsir 24), the forms will be sent through the House of Representatives constituency committees down to the ward level.
The schedule includes:
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By January 30 (Poush 15): Completion of Nepali Public Relations Committee conventions
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January 31 (Poush 16): Ward conventions
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February 1 (Poush 17): Rural municipality/municipality conventions
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February 3 (Poush 19): Provincial Assembly constituency conventions
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February 5 (Poush 21): House of Representatives constituency conventions
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February 6–7 (Poush 22–23): District conventions (one-constituency and multi-constituency districts)
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February 8–9 (Poush 23–24): Seven provincial conventions
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December 11–13 (Poush 26–28): Central General Convention in Kathmandu
Decisions on Upcoming Elections
The party has decided to issue a circular to all relevant committees, directing them to propose and recommend candidates for:
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National Assembly election scheduled for January 24 (Magh 11)
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House of Representatives elections (both FPTP and proportional representation)
The Central Committee will guide these processes through clear instructions via the party’s central office.
Leadership Stance After Injuries to President Deuba
Acting President Khadka emphasized that the agreement was possible due to the direction and guidance of Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba. Deuba has been recovering from serious injuries sustained during the violent attacks on his residence during the Gen-Z Movement protests on September 8–9.
Khadka stated, “The consensus achieved after long discussions sends a positive message. The Congress stands united, ready to lead the country through this difficult period and coordinate with all political forces.”
He urged leaders and cadres to work collectively to ensure the successful completion of the 15th General Convention and to prepare for the national elections with full dedication.
