- The Nepali Congress will allow former Central Committee members from Sher Bahadur Deuba’s camp to rejoin the current leadership body.
- The decision aims to resolve internal factional disputes and ensure unity before the upcoming 15th General Convention.
- The party recognized active memberships renewed through last Poush to facilitate internal elections and ward-level conventions.
- The 15th General Convention is set for Asoj 16-19, following ward conventions starting on Asoj 3.
Move comes ahead of 15th General Convention as party seeks to ease internal differences
Kathmandu: The Nepali Congress has opened the door for leaders from former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba’s camp to return to the party’s Central Committee.
A meeting of the party’s Working Committee on Sunday decided to allow leaders who were members of the previous Central Committee but were left out of the committee formed after the special general convention to rejoin the new body.
The decision comes amid differences between the party leadership and leaders associated with Deuba following changes made after the special general convention. With the 15th General Convention approaching, the party leadership appears to be seeking a way to bring the two sides together and avoid further disputes during the convention process.
A party office-bearer said former Central Committee members would be invited to join the committee and take part in preparations for the general convention.
“Everyone will be invited to join the Central Committee. They can come and work with the committee responsible for organizing the general convention,” the office-bearer said after the meeting.
The party will also appeal to the concerned leaders to participate in the general convention. Those who wish to return to the Central Committee can do so, while those who do not want to join will be free to stay outside the committee, the office-bearer said.
Dispute after special convention
Differences within the Nepali Congress intensified after the special general convention, which brought changes to the party’s leadership and Central Committee.
Several leaders who had served on Deuba’s team were not included in the new structure. Their exclusion led to dissatisfaction among leaders close to the former party president and raised questions about the representation of the different factions in the party.
The dispute has centered not only on membership of the Central Committee but also on the role of different groups in preparations for the upcoming general convention.
By inviting former Central Committee members back, the party leadership is seeking to bring the two sides into a common organizational framework before the convention process moves further.
It remains to be seen how Deuba and his supporters respond to the offer and whether the move will help resolve the differences.
Active membership recognized
The Working Committee also decided to recognize active memberships renewed up to last Poush.
Active membership is crucial to the party’s internal election process. Only members with valid active membership can take part in the convention process, beginning with ward-level conventions.
The finalized membership list will determine who is eligible to participate in ward conventions, become convention delegates and vote in the election of the party’s new leadership.
Disputes over active membership have frequently caused disagreements during Nepali Congress convention preparations. The latest decision is expected to clear one of the hurdles in moving the convention process forward.
General Convention schedule
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 must complete the ward-level conventions, select delegates and settle outstanding organizational disputes before the general convention.
The return of leaders from the former Central Committee could play an important role in that process. If differences between the party establishment and the Deuba camp continue, they could affect the selection of delegates and the conduct of the conventions at different levels.
The decision to bring former Central Committee members back therefore comes at a critical point in the party’s preparations for the general convention.
Deuba camp's response will be key
The next step will depend largely on how Deuba and his supporters respond to the invitation.
For the Deuba camp, the decision to rejoin the Central Committee is likely to be considered in the broader context of its representation and role in the party ahead of the general convention.
If the group accepts the invitation, the Central Committee could provide a forum for both sides to work together on convention preparations and discuss their outstanding differences.
If the camp feels that its concerns have not been addressed, however, the dispute could continue despite the latest decision.
The Working Committee’s decision has created an opportunity for reconciliation, but it does not by itself resolve the differences within the party.
With the 15th General Convention drawing closer, the Nepali Congress leadership now faces the challenge of completing the convention process while keeping its internal factions engaged.
The response from the Deuba camp in the coming days will show whether the latest move leads to greater cooperation or whether the divisions that emerged after the special convention continue.
