- The Nepali Congress begins its 15th General Convention today in Kathmandu, aiming to elect new leadership and define political priorities by October 8.
- Party President Gagan Thapa seeks re-election among 7,500 delegates, with several candidates contesting for general secretary and vice president roles.
- The event highlights increased youth and diverse representation despite ongoing legal and internal disputes between the party’s major factions.
- Foreign delegates and leaders from various Nepali political parties are attending the inauguration at the historic Khula Manch in Tundikhel.
Kathmandu, Nepal: The 15th General Convention of the Nepali Congress begins in Kathmandu today. The party will elect its new leadership during the convention and discuss its political and organisational priorities.
The opening ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. at Khula Manch in Tundikhel. Leaders of different political parties, foreign delegates and representatives of various organisations are expected to attend the ceremony.
The convention will run until October 8 (Ashoj 22). The closed session will begin on Sunday after the opening ceremony. According to the election schedule, voting for the party leadership will be held on October 7 and 8 (Ashoj 21 and 22).
The Nepali Congress has said around 7,500 delegates will take part in the convention. The participation of 7,028 delegates has been confirmed so far. They include representatives from all seven provinces and Nepali Congress-affiliated organisations abroad.
Thapa seeks another term
The election of the party president will be one of the main events of the convention.
Party President Gagan Kumar Thapa is seeking another term. He was elected unopposed as a general convention representative from Kathmandu-4.
The contest for other posts is expected to be more competitive. Several leaders are preparing to run for general secretary, vice president and other office-bearer positions.
Current general secretaries Pradeep Paudel and Gururaj Ghimire are also seeking positions in the new leadership.
Party leaders say candidates are not expected to form large formal panels as in previous conventions. Delegates are expected to vote for candidates of their choice for different positions.
Dispute with Deuba faction continues
The convention is taking place amid disagreements within the party.
The faction led by former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba has raised questions about the process used to organise the current convention and the changes made to the party leadership.
The dispute has also reached the legal arena. The two sides have held different positions over the legitimacy of the current party structure and the convention process.
The new leadership will have to deal with the differences between the two groups after the convention.
More young members in the convention
The party has changed its representation system to increase the participation of young people and other groups.
The new arrangements have provided greater representation to women, young people, professionals, workers, people with disabilities, veterans of the democratic movement, conflict victims and families of martyrs.
The party says thousands of young members have taken organisational responsibilities during the convention process.
The changes have also increased the number of delegates compared with the previous general convention.
Foreign delegates arrive
The Nepali Congress has invited representatives of political parties and organisations from several countries.
Representatives from India, China, Bangladesh, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Socialist International, among others, are expected to attend.
Some foreign representatives have already arrived in Kathmandu. The party had also invited representatives of the Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and Communist Party of China.
The number of foreign delegates is expected to be lower than in previous conventions because of recent disasters in Nepal and other circumstances in some countries.
Major party leaders to attend opening
Leaders of major political parties are also expected at the opening ceremony.
According to the Nepali Congress, Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane, CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Communist Party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Rastriya Prajatantra Party chair Rajendra Lingden, Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal chair Upendra Yadav and Janamat Party chair CK Raut have confirmed their attendance.
Parking and traffic arrangements
The arrival of thousands of delegates is expected to affect traffic in Kathmandu.
The Nepali Congress has been working with the traffic police to manage the movement of delegates and arrange parking.
Vijay Bahadur Swar, a Nepali Congress central committee member and coordinator of the convention’s Transportation Management Committee, said parking has been arranged at several locations.
Delegates can park their vehicles at the underground parking facility at Dharahara, the one-way road section between Maitighar and Bhadrakali, and the premises of Hotel Annapurna in Durbarmarg.
The party is also coordinating with the traffic police to arrange parking around the Old Bus Park and Bhrikutimandap.
Traffic police and party volunteers will help manage traffic around the convention venue.
Khula Manch holds a place in Congress history
The convention is being inaugurated at Khula Manch, a place associated with Nepal’s democratic movement.
Congress leader BP Koirala addressed a public gathering there after returning to Nepal from exile. The area was also used during major political movements, including the 1990 People’s Movement.
The Congress is now holding its latest general convention at the same venue as it prepares to elect a new leadership.
The main task of the convention is to choose the party’s new office-bearers. Delegates will also discuss the party’s future political and organisational course.
The outcome of the convention will determine who leads the Nepali Congress and how the party moves forward after a period of internal disputes and organisational changes.
