Nepali Congress Establishment Faction Claims Central Committee Alone Has Authority to Convene Conventions

The establishment faction of the Nepali Congress has claimed that the party statute grants full authority to organize any type of convention or general convention solely to the Central Working Committee.

Acting party president Purna Bahadur Khadka reiterated this claim during a press conference on Friday. He clarified that, according to the party statute, no individual office-bearer or member has the authority to call a special general convention. While the statute allows a special general convention to be held if 40 percent of general convention representatives submit a written demand, Khadka said the term “center” refers specifically to the Central Working Committee and the central party office.

He stated that although the party committee had decided to hold the regular general convention last Mangsir, it could not take place because then General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma failed to complete the necessary preparatory work. Khadka added that while the committee had initiated procedures to address the demand for a special general convention, the then general secretaries did not fulfill their responsibilities accordingly.

Khadka said, “The Nepali Congress statute clearly states in various clauses and regulations that only the Central Working Committee has the authority to convene any form of convention or general convention. No office-bearer other than the central committee has such authority. Even if 40 percent of general convention representatives submit a written demand, the statute says the ‘center’ meaning the Central Working Committee and the central office, must decide. This means a special general convention can only be held through a decision of the Central Working Committee.”

He further said that after the regular general convention scheduled for Mangsir could not be held, a decision was made to organize it in the coming Baisakh. He also claimed that a decision taken by the Central Executive Committee meeting on Poush 15 had already rendered the need for a special general convention invalid.

—News Agency Nepal