- The Nepali Congress invited members of Sher Bahadur Deuba’s previous Central Committee to join the current committee to resolve internal party disputes.
- This strategic decision aims to foster cooperation between factions ahead of the party’s 15th General Convention scheduled for October.
- The party also validated active memberships renewed through last Poush, which is essential for upcoming ward-level elections and delegate selection.
- These efforts represent the establishment's attempt to unify the party and streamline the convention process amid ongoing leadership tensions.
Move seen as an effort to reduce differences ahead of the party’s 15th General Conventio
Kathmandu, Nepal: The Nepali Congress has opened the way for leaders from former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba’s previous Central Committee to return to the party’s current Central Committee.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s Working Committee on Sunday. It allows those who were members of the previous Central Committee but were not included in the committee formed after the special general convention to join the new body.
The decision comes at a time when differences between the party establishment and the group dissatisfied with the new structure have continued following the special general convention. With the 15th General Convention approaching, the move is being seen as an attempt to bring the two sides closer and create a more workable environment for the convention.
However, it is still unclear how Deuba and the leaders supporting him will respond to the decision.
A party office-bearer said the former committee members would be invited to join the Central Committee and take part in the convention process.
“Everyone will be invited to join the Central Committee. They can come to the Central Committee and work as part of the committee responsible for organizing the general convention,” the office-bearer said after the meeting.
The party will also appeal to the leaders to take part in the general convention. Those who want to join the Central Committee can do so, while those who do not wish to return may choose not to participate, the office-bearer said.
A response to the dispute after the special convention
The decision needs to be understood in the context of what happened after the special general convention.
The special convention brought changes to the party’s leadership and Central Committee. However, many leaders who had been part of Deuba’s previous team were not included in the new structure.
That created differences between the new leadership and a group of leaders linked to the previous leadership. The disagreement was not only about positions in the Central Committee. It also raised questions about how the old and new groups would work together during the next general convention.
The latest decision appears to be an effort to address that problem before the convention process moves further.
Bringing the former Central Committee members back could make it easier for both groups to work together on the convention. It could also help the party avoid further disagreements over who should be involved in organizing the convention.
But the response from the Deuba camp will be important.
If the group accepts the offer and joins the Central Committee, it could help reduce the current differences. If it does not consider the decision enough to address its concerns, the dispute could continue in another form.
Active membership remains another key issue
The Congress has also taken a decision on active party membership.
The establishment has decided to recognize all active memberships that were renewed up to last Poush.
This is important because active membership is directly linked to the party’s internal elections. Members with valid active membership can take part in the convention process, beginning at the ward level.
The status of active membership can therefore affect who participates in the ward conventions, who becomes a delegate and, ultimately, who takes part in selecting the party’s new leadership.
For that reason, disagreements over active membership have often been an important issue during Congress conventions.
The latest decision could make the process easier as the party prepares for the upcoming ward conventions.
Convention schedule puts pressure on the party
The Nepali Congress has scheduled its 15th General Convention for Asoj 16 to 19. Ward-level conventions are scheduled for Asoj 3 and 4.
The party now has to complete several tasks in a relatively short period. These include settling internal disagreements, managing active membership, holding ward conventions and selecting delegates for the general convention.
This makes cooperation among the different groups within the party more important.
If the differences between the establishment and the Deuba camp continue, they could affect the convention process at the local level as well as the selection of delegates.
The decision to bring former Central Committee members back into the structure may therefore be aimed at making the process easier before the party reaches the convention.
What will Deuba’s group do?
The next step will largely depend on how Deuba and his supporters respond.
For the Deuba camp, the issue is likely to be bigger than simply joining the Central Committee. The group will also be concerned about its role in the party and its influence in the upcoming general convention.
If the group returns to the Central Committee, it could give both sides a place to discuss their differences within the party structure. It could also make it easier to work together on the convention.
But if the group believes that more issues need to be addressed first, the latest decision may not be enough to end the disagreement.
For now, the decision can be seen as an opening for talks rather than a final solution to the dispute.
A test before the general convention
The Congress is now heading toward its 15th General Convention with several issues still to settle.
The party needs to complete the convention process at the grassroots level while also managing differences between its senior leaders. The question of active membership and the participation of leaders from the previous Central Committee will also remain important.
The establishment’s latest decision suggests that it does not want to leave the Deuba camp outside the convention process.
Whether this leads to greater cooperation will depend largely on the response from Deuba’s group and what the two sides are willing to accept.
The coming weeks will show whether the decision helps the party work together for the general convention or whether the differences that emerged after the special convention continue.
For now, the most practical reading of the decision is that the Congress establishment has created another opportunity for the two sides to work together ahead of the 15th General Convention.
