General Minister Thapa had proposed the schedule of holding the Central Congress in November 2008 in the General Committee meeting two years ago. However, the proposal was stopped according to Chairman Deuba's wish.
While the signature campaign of the central representatives to call a special convention in the Congress is creating a stir, the two general ministers Gagan Thapa and Vishwaprakash Sharma have put forward an option that a regular convention can be held within November if the party leadership decides.
For the regular convention, they have put forward the option of holding the regular convention by suspending the legislative process while the renewal of the active membership and the distribution of new membership are pending.
The four-year tenure of the current central working committee headed by Chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba is coming to an end from the end of November. They argue that if the decision to go to the regular convention without extending the term of the central working committee is made by the central working committee, then there is no need to go to the special convention. However, they say that since the chairman is not ready, they have to advance the option of a special convention.
leader Shekhar Koirala has also been insisting for a regular convention. There was also a long discussion on Wednesday between Shekhar and Gagan, who had recently formed their own group and moved forward in the direction of party transformation after the recent events. Thapa said that in order to hold the regular convention early, there could be an option to open the membership online and elect the central leadership directly.
'Even by suspending the provisions of the law, it is not impossible to hold a regular convention within November, it can be done . Our (two chief ministers) first priority is this," Thapa told Kantipur, "Nepal before and after Bhadra 23 and 24 is not the same anymore. We don't have the facility to proceed in the same way as we did before. The time has come for us to make a historic decision on the party's leadership and policy. That determination and faith should be created through the convention.'
Another General Minister Vishwaprakash Sharma also said that they have raised the issue of going to a special convention only if the regular convention cannot be held by the end of November. The two general ministers have the same voice that November should not be cut in the name of regular convention. "According to article 17 (2) of the law, we will start a process where a special convention can be called if the central committee wants, that is our responsibility," Sharma said, "but if the convention representatives will go to collect 40 percent signatures to see if the central committee will not make that decision, no one can take it negatively." According to 17 (2) of the constitution of the party, the party central working committee itself can call a special convention in exceptional circumstances. In 2014, VP Koirala became the chairman in place of Suvarna Shamser Rana by calling a special convention by the decision of the central working committee.
Party Central Working Committee has received two-thirds support of Party Chairman Deuba . An official close to the General Minister said that because only the proposals of the party chairman will be passed there, instead of the General Minister, signatures have been collected for the special convention.
'The party president is not in favor of going to a special or regular convention right away . The party chairman and former foreign minister, who is undergoing treatment, has taken the initiative through his close leaders to prevent 40 percent of the signatures for the special congress by telephone.'' Even if the special convention is called by signature, it will go to November/Pus, while the regular convention has to be done within November . The two general ministers and leader Koirala have unanimously preferred the regular convention in November as the two options will be held in June.
It is the responsibility of the General Ministers to decide the active membership and hold a regular convention, but why could not the General Ministers do it? Holding a special convention at such a time is a plan to destroy the Congress," Sitaula said. "This will make those who want to see the Congress party destroyed. However, running a campaign against him while the parent of the party is injured and in the hospital is not natural, it is unnatural. Meen Vishwakarma, head of the
publicity department, said that since the party president has given the go-ahead to do all the work, there is no need to take up the issue of the special convention. He said it would be wise to prepare for the regular convention itself. "Even if we go to a special congress, it cannot be until the month of January, before that we can proceed by holding a regular congress," he said.
Vishwakarma says that there is no hindrance from the chairman to hold the party meeting, to make the party dynamic and to work from the hospital bed. There is no obstacle from the chairman in the direction of making the party dynamic. "You have told me to do all the work," said Vishwakarma, "as per the law, the tenure ends from November, it is better to go to the regular convention instead of the special convention." If the establishment party is able to retain its current leadership, it seems that it has made a main strategy to secure its political security in the upcoming elections on February 21 and distribute tickets in the elections accordingly. That's why the president and the couple have tried their best to stop the special convention,'' the General Minister said, "we have no objection if the regular convention is held in November." However, the tenure cannot be extended below November.
General Minister Thapa had proposed the schedule of holding the Central Congress in November 2018 at the Party Central General Committee meeting held two years ago. However, the proposal was stopped due to the party leadership.
Gen-G movement on 23rd and 24th of August displaced the strong power of Congress and UML and when the date of dissolution of parliament and new elections has been fixed, there is intense pressure on the Congress General Ministers Thapa and Sharma to change the leadership immediately. The analysis of some of the leaders is that this dispute poses a serious risk to the unity within the Congress.
