Congress central member and former general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula has said that the upcoming election should be the party's focal point. He is of the opinion that the Congress cannot hold a general convention as the National Assembly elections are being held in Magh and the House of Representatives elections in Falgun. The other side is of the opinion that it cannot go to the people without holding a general convention before the elections.

Young leader Gururaj Ghimire Gen-G says that it is not natural for the Congress to not hold a general convention within two months when there is so much turmoil in the country in 24 hours. An edited excerpt of a conversation between Sitaula, who is seen in a leading role among seven former office bearers in the ongoing dispute within the party over whether to hold a general convention before the elections, and young leader Ghimire, who led the way for a special general convention, with Kantipur's Kulchandra Neupane .

Why are you trying to stop the general convention?

There is a view within our party that the current crisis cannot be overcome without going to the elections. Recently, President Ramchandra Poudel called me and spoke to me alone. Listening to him and analyzing it, I felt that if we do not go to the elections, there will be a bigger disaster in the country. Therefore, it seems appropriate to go to the elections.

The court's herring is in its place. It is in its place to test. The decision-making process is in a state of flux. How strongly the judges can interpret the constitution is also in their own place. We have left the judicial review to the courts. But, if we are going to go to the elections, we do not have even four months left. When will the organization be mobilized for the elections? When will the candidate recommendation be brought? When will the candidate be selected? When will the parliamentary board be formed? It is time to prepare a new agenda for the new changes. A manifesto will have to be prepared. It takes 6-7 months to prepare for that. That is why parties do not hold conventions in the election year. Now there are no more than four months. So let's only enter the election agenda. My point is not to do it in others. The party's general convention will be held after the elections. Now the active membership needs to be finalized. The active membership has not been finalized. When will the new distribution be made? There is a process of constitution. There is opposition across the country regarding membership. It takes 5-6 months for the general convention alone. It is not easy.

Is it necessary to hold a special general convention?

I also think the demand for a special general convention is appropriate. The only thing that is connected to this is changing the central working committee. Which central working committee can do the work that this central working committee has not been able to do? So let's form a parliamentary board. The office bearers are ex-officio members in it. Put other members in consultation with the office bearers. It should bring a program related to the election of the constitution. Let's pass it. Let's hold a general convention after the election. I have been saying this from the beginning.

As soon as we say regular general convention, the seven-level convention should be held. The general secretaries brought up the matter of a special convention. Should I call a special general convention at a time like this? At this time, the term of the Central Working Committee has ended, and I had said that we should not bring the matter of a special general convention, but a regular general convention. There is no situation where a special general convention can be held. It has been said that elections must be held. However, the agenda has not been brought to the Central Working Committee. Till date, the Congress has not been able to take an institutional decision to go to the elections. The Nepali Congress cannot create an atmosphere for elections without taking an institutional decision. The UML has launched a nationwide movement on the issue of restoring the parliament. It has reached the lowest level.

The UML has already started preparations to hold a general convention in Mangsir, why can't the Congress do it?

The UML has already selected its representatives. The nature of the general convention of the Communist Party and the Congress is different. The Communist Party has already selected its representatives. Organized members are renewed every year. At this time, new membership is not being formed. Their statute and ours are different. The method is different. Our general convention representative is a permanent body for four years in five years. It cannot be said that we will hold the general convention in a hurry.

A petition has already been filed demanding a special general convention, if we are to follow the statute, is there a provision to call it mandatory?

Why was a special general convention requested? Is a special general convention attractive when the term has expired? It needs to be explained. First, the Central Working Committee will have its process. The Central Working Committee must decide whether a special general convention should be held or not. If it is necessary, what will be the process, and it should be taken forward accordingly. This will also be held at the end of Poush. All the representatives had to be verified. There is no agenda for discussion at the moment about whether a special general convention is necessary and justified or how to do it.

Can we forcibly move forward after the provisions of the statute have been drawn?

How can we say without a decision by the Central Working Committee meeting about how the provisions related to the special general convention are drawn? How can a special general convention be held without a decision by the Central Working Committee? For what reason is a special general convention held? It has been said that a special general convention should be called within three months. That time is towards the end of Poush. How can we hold the election of one-third of the members of the National Assembly in Magh and the election of the House of Representatives in Falgun by creating a ruckus? By leaving all the election-related agenda and holding a special general convention, it seems that an attempt is being made to avoid the election in a roundabout way. We have to choose between the election or the general convention. Or leave the election. Otherwise, we have to leave the general convention and go for the election. This election is not Gyanendra's announcement! It is the election announced by President Ramchandra Poudel. What will happen to the President if there is no election? What will happen to us if the President announces the election and the Congress does not participate in the election? UML has also said that it will not run away from the election.

Another thing is that UML has said that it is not Baluwatar that we are watching what Sanepa decides. If the Congress goes to the election, the country will go on the path of elections, if the Congress does not go, the atmosphere will not be created. The special general convention has been convened. The general secretaries have come saying that there is no alternative to this.

When you former office bearers are not in favor of holding any general convention, why do you want to go towards party division?

It was the general secretaries who initiated the division. The general secretaries campaigned for the special general convention. If they had not run it, this situation would not have happened. What is the point of going on the same campaign as the general secretaries?

Are the general secretaries saying that they cannot go to the people to seek votes without holding a special or regular general convention?

Those who can go to seek votes. Those who cannot go do not go. Isn't this the working committee formed by these general convention representatives? Will the special general convention held by these general convention representatives bring something new? Aren't these representatives who came from the fresh mandate?

The situation before and after the Gen-G agitation must have changed, right?

The mood of the center must have changed too!

Are you trying to prevent them from going to the general convention out of fear to protect your political relevance?

There is nothing to be afraid of. There is nothing to be afraid of. You cannot agree to the idea that you will destroy the party by insulting and threatening it. There is so much fire all over the country, there is such a crisis in the country, the parliament has been dissolved. The whole country is on fire. The houses of the party leaders are on fire. Seeing this, is it possible to spread corruption within the party? At this time, even if there are many votes in the party, shouldn't it be put on hold? There has been a loss of trillions, a loss that will not be compensated for for decades. In this situation, when we say that we will manage the country unitedly by putting aside the internal organizational disputes, should we stir up internal disputes? At this time, the Congress should go to the elections unitedly. It is not a matter of competition and division in the party. We should go to the elections unitedly. Four months are very short for the elections. We should focus only on the elections without paying attention to the end.

Do the people believe you when you go to the elections without giving any message that the party has been corrected?

If the party goes to the elections united, it means correcting itself. Be it about providing justice within the party or the current economic and foreign situation. Why were the security personnel unable to provide security in the Bhadra 24 incident? No reports have been received from the officials on such matters. They are just saying, "Let's hold a general convention"?

The general secretaries have already stated in the meeting that the party must first be corrected, the party's policy and leadership must be corrected, and only then can the people's trust be earned?

Who is leadership? Not the president, vice president and general secretaries? We are. Our party is under collective leadership. The main leadership has already given an acting president and left. It is not just about leadership.

The Gen-G movement has rejected all three leaders of the three parties. Congress President Deuba is also among them. But, are you trying to bring Deuba back?

The president has already given an acting president and left. This method of the general secretaries saying the president is right until the 22nd, and saying Sher Bahadur Deuba is finished as soon as he comes on the 24th, did not happen.

Are you trying to bring back the president you left with an acting president?

That is not the case. Our main point is why are you afraid to bring the election agenda. Why are you not trying to bring a proposal in the meeting that you should go for an election outside? All the office bearers are MPs. If you want to restore the parliament, you should bring that proposal too. No, if you are going for an election, you should bring an election-related agenda. After talking to the President, I feel that only an election can provide a solution to the current crisis.

Earlier, you were the one who was working on the issue of restoring the parliament?

No, the decision is unconstitutional! How can the formation of a government from outside the parliament and the dissolution of the parliament be called constitutional? I said that by imagining the incident of the 24th. However, after listening to the President, I feel that we should go for elections now.

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If the regular general convention cannot be held, the decision of the Central Working Committee for a special general convention cannot be made: Gururaj Ghimire

The establishment side is not in favor of any kind of general convention. In such a situation, what will happen to the special general convention as you have demanded?

A lot depends on the decision and conclusion of the Central Working Committee. The working style and decision adopted by the Central Working Committee will determine it. We want a general convention within the four-year time limit—whether regular or special. We are flexible. The signatories who registered the proposal for a special general convention are ready to accept a regular general convention as well, this is maximum flexibility. If it is decided to hold a regular general convention before the election, it is right, otherwise there is no alternative to a special general convention. We are preparing for that.

However, it has also been made clear from the counter proposal of Joint General Secretary Mahendra Yadav in the Central Working Committee that the founding party is not in favor of any convention. How do you move forward now?

Looking at the things presented by the founding party and the proposals that have come, they cannot be seen in favor of any party. The proposal of the Joint General Secretary in the Central Working Committee is a proposal that has been brought outside the jurisdiction against the statute and established norms. I spoke to the acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka on the phone this morning. He has already said that the proposal of the Joint General Secretary is a personal proposal. The traditional method of presenting the agenda is that after the party president gives permission, the General Secretary submits the proposal as per the understanding reached in the work performance meeting and the office bearers meeting. The General Secretary has brought the June schedule for Poush 16-19. त्यो विधानको अधिकार प्रयोग गरेर ल्याउनु भएको हो । तर सहमहामन्त्रीहरूको प्रस्ताव क्षेत्राधिकार बाहिरबाट आएको हो । त्यसैले महामन्त्रीको प्रस्ताव पारित भयो भने विशेष महाधिवेशन बोलाइराख्न पर्दैन । तर, उक्त प्रस्ताव पारित हुन सकेन भने विशेष महाधिवेशन अनिवार्य रुपमा बोलाउनुपर्ने वैधानिक व्यवस्था छ । बोलाउनुपर्छ ।

महामन्त्री गगन थापाको प्रस्ताव पारित नभए र केन्द्रीय कार्यसमितिले कुनै निर्णय नलिएमा विशेष महाधिवेशन कसले कसरी बोलाउने हो ?

महामन्त्रीको प्रस्ताव छलफल गरेर टुंगो लगाउनुपर्छ । यदि महामन्त्रीको प्रस्ताव पारित भएन भने विशेष महाधिवेशनको प्रक्रिया नै सुरु हुन्छ । त्यसबारे हामी आन्तरिक रुपमा पनि छलफल गरीरहेका छौं । महाधिवेशनको प्रक्रिया केन्द्रीय कार्यसमितिले नै अघि बढाउने हो । विशेष महाधिवेशन भनेको प्रकारान्तरले महाधिवेशन नै हो । चाहे त्यो नियमित कार्यकालभित्र होस् वा नियमित महाधिवेशन गर्न नसकेको अवस्थामा होस् । यसले केन्द्रीय कार्यसमिति चयन गर्छन् । त्यसका लागि निर्वाचन समिति बनाउनुपर्छ । त्यसका लागि हस्ताक्षरकर्ताहरुको समेत प्रतिनिधित्व हुनुपर्छ । त्यसैले असोज २९ गते दर्ता भएको विशेष महाधिवेशनको निवेदन अघि नबढाई केन्द्रीय समिति बस्न पाउँदैन । विशेष महाधिवेशनका मागकर्ताहरूसँग छलफल गरेर समयतालिका निर्धारण गर्नुपर्छ । यो प्रक्रियामा महामन्त्रीसहितका पदाधिकारीहरू सबै संलग्न हुनुहुन्छ । उहाँहरु पनि हुनुहुन्छ ।

बहुमतले केही पेलेरै विशेष महाधिवेशनको प्रक्रिया अघि नबढाएमा तपाईंहरुसँग अर्को विकल्प के हुनसक्छ ?

अहिलेसम्मको मनस्थिति हेर्दा यही गर्छ भन्ने देखिँदैन । बैठकमा बोल्ने अधिकांश वक्ताहरू निर्वाचनअघि नै महाधिवेशन गर्नुपर्छ भन्ने दिशामा उन्मुख हुँदै जानु भएको छ । हरेक दिन बोल्ने वक्ताहरूको अभिव्यक्ति  त्यतातिर गएको छ । हामी आशावादी छौं—समयसीमाभित्र महाधिवेशन हुन्छ । नियमित नभए विशेष हुन्छ । यो अन्तिम विकल्प हो ।