A few days ago, braving the cold wave, I reached all eight districts of Madhesh Province. I interacted not only with party friends, but also with well-wishers and the general public. Many people know that the elections are being held on 21 Falgun, but the excitement of the elections has not yet begun.

The parties are also busy with internal preparations and adjustments. Most of the friends had the same curiosity – the country is on the verge of major social, political, and economic changes. But can the Congress assimilate this rush of change and provide a solution to the country? Can it change itself?

A friend told a story – a mother complained to a monk that her eight-year-old son was addicted to sugar or sweets and tried to eat only sweets even if he stole them. She told the monk – ‘Maharaj, please tell my son not to eat sugar or sweets, they are harmful to his health.’ The monk asked him to come back after a month. After a month, the monk patted the head of the child who came with his mother and said, ‘Father, you should not eat too much sugar or sweets. They are bad for your health.’ Without saying a word, the child’s habits gradually changed. The habit of eating sugar or sweets, even if it was stolen, was broken. The happy mother took her son back to the monk and told him the good news. She said to the monk, “But why did you tell me to come after a month when I first met you?” The monk replied, “Because I was addicted to sugar myself until then.” Only after I gave up sugar for a month did I tell your son that it was not good to eat sugar, father, and the son felt its (positive) effects.”

After the Gen-G movement on 23-24 Bhadra, the Congress conducted an introspection and review in an expanded meeting of the Central Working Committee. After long discussions, the dates for the regular general convention have been set for 26, 27 and 28 Poush. The preparation work for the general convention will have to be done on a war footing. The general convention of the Congress is not only an internal matter of the party. The Congress, which considers nationalism, democracy and socialism as its ideals, is not only a national party of Nepal but also a national force. The Nepali Congress, which has succeeded in providing sovereign rights to citizens and in making democracy a strong practice in world history, is also a movement in itself. The Congress has already played a leading role in restoring democracy in 2046 by leading the democratic revolution of 2007 and playing a decisive role in the movement of 2062/63. It also played a leading role in promulgating the constitution in 2072. With such a background, the Congress is once again in a position to play a separate, decisive and leading role. The country is at an important moment to normalize the situation created after the Gen-G movement and move forward with peace and stability. The Congress, which has taken on both political struggle and responsibility, has an important responsibility to protect the democratic republic and lead the country towards development and prosperity by strictly adhering to the constitution.

Gen-G wants immediate change in the country. The young generation has sought leadership transfer and generational change, digital-friendly organization, timely renewal in ideas, youth-oriented political culture as well as radical change in thinking and trend. The Congress has sought good governance, transparency, fact-based policy-centered leadership. It has become the responsibility of the Congress to change leadership, structural reforms and give full responsibility to the new generation.

'Business as usual' is no longer applicable in the issue of nationality or organization. After the Gen-G campaign, it has become essential for the new Congress to introspect and self-criticize and build a new Nepal. For this, timely changes in organizational structure, comprehensive transformation of the organization and generational change in leadership, transparent, competitive and regular internal elections at all levels of the party should be given top priority. The leadership is failing in the issue of making the fraternal organizations, which are considered the roots of the party, result-oriented. For this, a comprehensive change in the thinking of the leadership seems necessary. There is a danger that the Congress will not be able to be for all generations unless a clear policy is made to give 40 percent responsibility to youth under 40 years of age. In which the number of women should be equal. Sadly, women's participation in party politics and leadership has not been prioritized. Therefore, the end of the patriarchal mentality and traditional thinking is the welfare of the organization.

Despite significant improvements in the education, health and employment sectors in Nepal, they are still not being made accessible and of high quality. All three sectors seem to be trapped in the cycle of mafia and commission. First of all, the Congress needs to create a separate and effective roadmap for revolutionary reforms in education. For this, it is necessary to implement 'Nepal Education Standards' for quality education in government schools, make university autonomy, student unions active in monitoring the quality of teaching and learning, and work with high priority on skill development education. A policy should be adopted to teach young students digital skills by running the 'Reading and Working' project from the school level.

In fact, the Congress should be able to keep the prosperity of the country at its heart along with its organization. It also seems essential to make the grassroots cadres aware and responsible through training campaigns, keeping in mind the changing situation, developments and immediate needs. The recent turmoil in the country has not only made the organization in a pathetic state, but also caused a drought in trust, so it has become a big challenge to build an organization and make it dynamic. For that, it seems necessary to immediately start a nationwide training and door-to-door awareness campaign. Despite repeated commitments to put internal democracy into practice, widespread changes in the organization, culture, conduct and character are also needed as distortions are increasing at the implementation level.

The country's situation is becoming serious due to the problems seen due to nationality and the constitution. Even though the constitution has institutionalized federalism, it is too late for the Congress to take the lead in this as work remains to be done, from demarcation, nomination, administrative management to the identification, mobilization and utilization of resources, including the formulation of acts, rules and policies. At the same time, the Congress should take the initiative in achieving economic prosperity along with social justice. Considering the provision that the constitution should be amended within 10 years of its promulgation, to advance the process of amendment, it is against the democratic spirit to gain a foothold or make excuses to go to the general election immediately. Since only a fresh mandate will advance the process of amending the constitution, it is pointless to obstruct the path of prosperity of the country because of the constitution.