Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has instructed party leaders from the establishment faction not to hold a special convention and to focus on creating an environment for the regular convention.
Deuba, who is undergoing treatment in Singapore, conveyed this directive via phone to Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka and Deputy General Secretary Kishor Singh Rathore, among other leaders.
Earlier, 2,488 delegates had submitted a signed letter to Acting President Khadka requesting a special convention. However, Deuba urged leaders not to implement it and instead concentrate on the regular convention.
The previous central working committee meeting was postponed due to disagreements over the date for the regular convention. Following this, an informal meeting of the establishment faction was held where Khadka relayed Deuba’s instructions.
One leader present at the meeting stated, “Acting President Khadka conveyed President Deuba’s instruction—not to hold a special convention and to work towards consensus for the regular convention.” Deuba also reportedly advised his close officials that a special convention could harm the party and should be avoided.
Meanwhile, the faction led by Dr. Shekhar Koirala, along with General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwprakash Sharma, insist that the regular convention be held within Mangsir. Talks between the two factions have not reached consensus, and Sharma proposed an alternative date of Poush 16–19 for the convention, which also remains unresolved.
