Nepali Congress Rift Deepens Over Convention Schedule

A deepening rift over the convention calendar has pushed the Nepali Congress into one of its most serious internal crises in recent years, with leaders openly divided over whether to hold a regular or a special general convention.

On Friday, the party’s Executive Committee endorsed Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka’s proposal to hold the 15th general convention from Baisakh 28 to 31, triggering strong dissent from General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma and several senior leaders.

While the establishment argues the revised schedule is necessary after earlier dates became impractical, Thapa insists the party statute mandates a special convention by the end of Poush, citing a petition signed by 2,488 delegates.

The establishment faction has rejected that interpretation, warning that a special convention could split the party, as parallel preparations for different conventions deepen uncertainty and expose growing fault lines within the Congress.