In the Congress, leaders and cadres, including general secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma, are warning that they will call a separate gathering if a decision is not made to call a regular general convention or a special general convention immediately. Sher Bahadur Deuba's faction does not appear to be in favor of holding a regular and special general convention within Mangsir.

Amidst the polarization within the party, leader Shekhar Koirala is standing on the middle ground. He has urged to bring a schedule to hold a regular general convention within Mangsir, saying that calling a separate gathering could lead to a split in the party. An edited excerpt of a conversation between Koirala and Kantipur's Kulchandra Neupane about the ongoing tug-of-war within the party regarding the general convention, preparations for the upcoming elections and the country's political crisis: If the regular general convention schedule is not announced within Mangsir, how feasible do you see it to call a special general convention?

The responsibility of calling a special general convention lies with the central working committee. The constitution states that if 40 percent of the general convention delegates sign the demand, the central working committee must call a special general convention within three months. Currently, a special general convention has been demanded with 54 percent signatures. If the regular general convention is held within Mangsir, there is no problem, but if the agenda for the regular general convention is not received, and a special general convention is not called, those who signed it will call a meeting. That increases the risk of party division. The establishment side should think about this seriously.

Is it your opinion that the agenda for the regular general convention should be received within Mangsir, not a special one?

The most complicated task for the general convention is to resolve the dispute over active membership. Let's come up with an agenda so that membership renewal, new distribution, and dispute resolution can be completed by Mangsir. Let's go further if possible. At least if the active membership distribution is completed by mid-Mangsir, then if the election is held on 21 Falgun, the argument that it should be postponed for some time may be justified. This is natural. But postponing the time and not doing the work is not acceptable. It is not right not to bring the agenda just because it cannot be done now.

Why is the establishment party not accepting the agenda of the regular general convention?

Friends who support the establishment party speak in favor of the regular general convention in the meeting and outside. In my opinion, the regular general convention should be held within Mangsir. But they want to extend their term by relying on the provision of the statute that allows for an extension of one year. They may be worried about who will distribute tickets in the elections tomorrow, whether they will maintain their dominance in ticket distribution or not. But there is no need to worry about that. All friends in the party are seniors. Tickets are distributed by everyone together, not by any one party or one leader. At this time, we should worry about whether the party will remain united or not. I am trying to unite the party by standing on the middle ground. Some may say that by doing this, I have agreed with the Deuba group, but my main goal is to unite the Congress.

What is your role in the event that there is neither a special nor a regular general convention?

My role is to unite the party. In the history of the Congress, the general convention delegates have never been devalued after they have signed. I do not want to go into the debate on whether the term of the general convention delegates has expired. The Congress is a movement. After the general convention delegates have signed and demanded a special general convention, the process must begin. My clear opinion is that we should not go to a special general convention and bring the agenda within Mangsir. If a regular general convention is held, the demand for a special general convention will also be fulfilled. The pressure from a group to sign is also for the regular general convention. Friends should not look at this from the perspective of whether it is legitimate or not. We should trust the general convention delegates. The Central Working Committee cannot reject their demands.

If a special general convention is not called and a situation arises where you stand if a gathering is forced to be called, where will you stand?

I will go the way to prevent the party from splitting. I will try to remind my friends. The gathering must be stopped. The only way to stop it is to bring the schedule of the regular general convention. There is no other option. The meeting of the suspended Central Working Committee is starting on 13 Kartik. I urge that the schedule be decided in the first day's meeting. National and international forces are watching the Congress. We are trying to run away from the general convention out of fear. The Congress is the voice of every movement and revolution. Why is the party, which has become the voice even for peace and a way out, now so anxious? This is not natural. The country is now looking for the role of the democratic party Congress. At a time when the country and the party are in crisis, you cannot keep the party in the status quo by worrying about your dominance.

What is the possibility of you and the General Secretary Gagan Thapa faction standing together in terms of the agenda?

We are all in agreement about the regular general convention. But there is a difference of opinion on when the regular general convention will be held. We are saying that it should be held within mid-Mansir. If the regular general convention is not called, there will be a compelling situation to call a special general convention. The signatures of 54 percent of the general convention delegates cannot be ignored.

Why do you insist on the regular general convention?

The special general convention only talks about changing the leadership of the Central Working Committee. Even if the leadership is selected from the special general convention, the 15th general convention must be held after some time. The party cannot be radically changed by changing the leadership of the center alone. We will have to transform from the ward level to the center. It does not matter if there is a slight delay in working. The convention should be held from the ward to the center.

Doesn't it seem like the party is trying to reform itself even after the Gen-G movement when it is trying to run the party from its old state? 'The government should not evaluate the incidents of 23 and 24 Bhadra in the same basket.'

Yes, this is the concern. In the current situation, the Congress should have been able to come forward for a national role. The situation in the country is precarious. The fact that the Congress is internally confused even for one and a half months of the Gen-G movement is a serious matter. The Congress has never been confused like this. We should have taken other parties into confidence and shown the way to lead the country in one direction. That is not happening. We have not yet been able to formally say that we will go to the elections. This is a serious matter. The first decision to go to the elections should have been made on the day of the meeting. Then pressure should have been put on the government. And only if the elections were not held, the government could have been blamed.

It is also said that the government did not create the environment for the elections ?

The government should create the environment . Discussions should be held with all political parties . The weapons and uniforms of the police that were looted on 24 Bhadra should be returned . The government should not evaluate the incidents of 23 and 24 Bhadra in the same basket . The state was oppressed in the incident of 23 Bhadra, it should be investigated and action should be taken against the guilty . Those involved in the murder, violence and arson on 24 Bhadra should be identified and brought to justice . Otherwise, there will be no peace and security situation for the elections . There is fear in the society due to the prisoners who disappeared after vandalizing the prison . Therefore, they should be taken under control immediately .

Is there a confusion in the party about the issue of the restoration of the House of Representatives to decide to go to the elections ?

The idea of ​​restoration has now weakened . The idea that we should go to the elections has already been formed within the Congress . The decision to go for elections could have been made formally and could have influenced other parties. It would have helped make the country election-ready and put pressure on the government. Currently, there is only minimal damage to the constitution. There is no other option but to hold elections to prevent further damage to the constitution and bring the country back on track. Some members of the Gen-G group have raised the issue of amending the constitution. How can the amendment be made now? It would have been possible if Sushila Karki had done it in parliament as soon as she became prime minister. Now, there is no way to amend the constitution until the next parliament. The possibility of any party getting two-thirds of the vote tomorrow is also low. Why doesn't the Congress take a progressive initiative for consensus, cooperation and unity among political parties?

The movement is starting to be discussed again. How are political parties taking the situation in the coming days? 'The Congress has stood as the Mio in all the movements since 2007, but that could not happen this time.'

Nepal is a country of strategic importance. We should take this seriously. The movement of 23 and 24 Bhadra was focused on anti-corruption, good governance and opposition to social media bans. But the movement went much further, crossing that boundary. 76 people died. Singha Durbar, Parliament House, President's House, courts, media houses and leaders' houses were burnt. I don't think that the momentary anger of the youth was the only reason behind this. The web will be revealed. We are now worried that this is not a game that will destroy democratic institutions. We hear that even our neighbors are watching the talk of a movement after Chhath. What will the situation be like on the streets throughout Kartik? How will politics progress? Will there be elections or not? Will the House of Representatives be restored instead of elections? There is a confusing situation. I see the activities seen in the streets and in the government in the next month determining where the political course will go. In this situation, the Congress should have played a leading role. In all the movements since 2007, the Congress has stood as a mute. But this time the Congress could not be a mute. It is seen in a very chaotic situation.