While the UML, among the two main parties in the then ruling coalition, is increasing pressure from the streets by making the restoration of the House of Representatives a key issue, the Congress has decided to go for the election. The decision to go for the election was made by the Congress Central Working Committee meeting on Saturday, while UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli was trying to bring up the issue of the restoration of the House of Representatives, urging them to continue their old cooperation.

‘With the date of the House of Representatives election for 21 Falgun already announced, the Congress decides to participate in the election, concluding that the appropriate way out of the current politics is through elections,’ the decision of the Congress Central Working Committee meeting said. 

In the decision, the Congress said, ‘We firmly believe that through elections, the country can be moved forward by protecting the Constitution and institutionalizing the voices raised for change during the Gen-G protests.’

The Congress has called the agenda for the restoration of the House of Representatives a matter under consideration by the court. The Central Committee has approved the decision of the Congress Central Working Committee held on 3 Asoj that the initiative to dissolve the parliament was unconstitutional as it was against the concept of the constitution and the interpretation of the esteemed court. However, the Congress believes that the solution to all crises will once again be through elections.

While Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba was in Singapore for medical treatment, members of the dissolved House of Representatives had even started signing to press for the formulation of an agenda for restoration. The initiative taken by the then Chief Whip Shyam Ghimire had already been signed by 45 then MPs. But there was no consensus even within the establishment party. The Congress decided to go for the election in the backdrop of pressure from General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma and President Ram Chandra Poudel advising the parties not to consider the option of elections.

‘The move to form a government from outside the parliament and dissolve the parliament has put democratic achievements at risk. The Congress firmly believes that a solution is possible within the constitution. Now that the formation of an interim government and dissolution of the House of Representatives and the election date have been announced,’ the Congress has said in the decision, ‘The issue of restoring the House of Representatives is not only political but also constitutional, and since this issue is pending in the esteemed Supreme Court, the Congress believes that the final interpretation will come from the court.’ 

 The Congress has also urged the government to create a fearless and free environment for the election. ‘The protection and institutional development of the federal, inclusive, democratic republican system of governance established by the people through patience, struggle and sacrifice at the call of the Congress and various parties is our common responsibility. For this, it is necessary for all parties to participate enthusiastically in the House of Representatives elections to be held on 21 Falgun,’ the Congress decision states. ‘The Congress strongly demands that the Election Commission, the government and the relevant parties create the necessary environment to make the elections fair, credible and fearless.’

 The Congress has decided to register the party with the Commission for the National Assembly elections to be held on 11 Magh and the House of Representatives elections to be held on 21 Falgun, and has also decided to give the responsibility to Chief Secretary Krishna Poudel to move the process forward. However, the issue of whether to include President Deuba’s name in the party registration application or the name of Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka has come up for debate within the Congress.

President Deuba had announced his retirement from active politics by giving the responsibility of Acting President to Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka on 28 Asoj while addressing the first meeting of the Central Working Committee. Since then, he has not attended the Congress meeting. He has been playing an active role in the internal strife within the Congress from his residence. 

 ‘If the party registration letter is given with the name of the president Deuba, then tickets should be distributed in the name of the president, which sends a message that Deuba is trying to return to active politics,’ says a Congress official. ‘If the name of the president is given without the name of the acting president, it does not seem that Deuba has left the leadership. This will further strengthen those demanding a special general convention.’ 

Congress spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat says that the party registration process will proceed as per the existing arrangements. 

General convention knot still untied 

The dispute over whether to hold the general convention election before or after has not been resolved in the Congress meeting. Even the proposal to extend the term of the Central Working Committee could not be passed in the meeting due to the general convention dispute. The term of the Congress office bearers and members ends in November. General Secretary Thapa has been saying that he will not propose to extend the term until it is ensured that the general convention will be held before the election. Presenting the agenda of the meeting on Saturday, he said that if there is an agreement in the next meeting, it will be decided accordingly and if there is no agreement, it will be decided according to the procedure.

Thapa has said that a special general convention is the only option due to the pressure of time. If the entire party does not stand together for the regular general convention within the month, he has proposed that the special general convention should be set for 12 and 13 Mangs. 'For the Congress to walk proudly in the election, a general convention must be held before the election, and there are currently two ways to do that. If the entire party is not ready to hold a regular general convention within the month of Poush, or if it cannot be held, then a special general convention is the only option,' he said. 'Looking at the situation so far, I feel that this is the only option. Only the leadership that comes from the convention can lead the country on the path of peace and consensus, and can move forward with the party's policy and resolve.'

General Secretary Thapa disagrees with the attempt by President Deuba and Acting President Khadka, who are active in resolving the general convention dispute, to bring a 'conditional' agenda within the month of Poush. With the agreement of President Deuba, the establishment party has put forward a 'condition' to withdraw the application for a special general convention that was registered at the party central office on 20 Asoj along with the agenda to be held within the month of Poush, signed by 54 percent of the general convention delegates. But this has been rejected by those in favor of a special general convention. 

They argue that holding a general convention within the month of Poush will negate the relevance of the special general convention, so there is no need to withdraw it. General Secretary Thapa and Sharma are dissatisfied with the strategy of the establishment party not wanting to bring the agenda until the application for the special general convention is withdrawn. 'We are not looking for an agenda, we are looking for a general convention' After the Congress meeting, Thapa said, 'If the entire leadership level has the will, a periodic convention is possible within December. However, if it is not decided that a periodic convention cannot be held, the special general convention cannot be postponed. The delay was made so that there is as much consensus as possible. If there is consensus in the Central Working Committee meeting to be held now, it will be by consensus, otherwise, a decision will be made legally.' Another meeting has been scheduled for 11 Mangsir to take a decision on the general convention. 

General Secretary Thapa has not taken up the proposal to extend the term of the Central Working Committee as there is no consensus on whether to hold the general convention before the elections. The four-year term of the Central Working Committee ends in mid-Mangsir. Thapa has maintained that a new leadership should be selected from a special general convention without extending his term, while leaders in favor of a general convention are now pressing for a special one, saying that a regular general convention is no longer possible. 

Meanwhile, leaders in favor of the general secretary argue that if an application for party registration is submitted to the Election Commission in the name of President Deuba, the need for a special general convention will increase even more. "If tickets are to be given in the name of the president, giving a caretaker and separating from active politics is not practical, the general secretaries say that the leadership should be changed by calling a special general convention," said a central member close to Thapa.

If there is no agreement, the Congress will have to call a special general convention within 28 Pus. There is a mandatory provision in the Congress statute that if forty percent of the representatives sign the demand, a special general convention must be called within three months. 54 percent of the representatives have signed and registered a petition demanding a special general convention on 29 Asoj. Since 28 Pus will be three months, there is a legal provision that a special general convention must be held within that period. Even though the constitution provides for the four-year term of the Central Working Committee to be extended by a majority vote by one year, the provision for a special general convention cannot be stopped. The pressure being exerted by the establishment party to withdraw the application for a special general convention by bringing the agenda within December is due to the intention of not holding the general convention, says Gururaj Ghimire, a leader in favor of the special general convention. 

‘We are not doing this to look at or read the agenda, we need the general convention, if the central general convention is completed by December 28,  the appropriateness of the special general convention will be self-evident,’ says Ghimire, ‘But there is no question of withdrawing the application based on the agenda.’ 

Similarly, the Congress has concluded that a multi-party national dialogue is necessary to address the voices calling for change through the Gen-G demonstration. ‘The Congress has concluded that a common understanding is necessary to move the country towards peace, prosperity and stability, including transformation in accordance with the spirit and values ​​of the Constitution,’ the decision states. 

Calling for a multi-party dialogue and building a common national understanding with the parties of the dissolved House of Representatives, the parties that emerged after the protests, the Gen-G generation, civil society, intellectuals, businessmen/entrepreneurs, media persons and stakeholders, the Congress has said, ‘The Nepali Congress decides to take the necessary initiative for this.’

UML preparing

UML is also preparing to register its party for the House of Representatives elections within the deadline given by the Election Commission. UML Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali said that he will participate in the party registration despite doubts about the election. ‘We have already registered our party to participate in the upcoming elections of the National Assembly. We will also register our party for the House of Representatives elections,’ he said.

Gyawali said that the party has raised questions about the elections because the cycle of the work that was planned, including the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the formation of the government under the leadership of Sushila Karki, has not been completed. ‘A series of regression has begun. The power that brought the country to this state has tried to create a political vacuum and weaken the constitution. That task has not been completed,' he said, 'The government's behavior is prohibitive. There is a negative attitude towards the party. The government is protecting those who obstruct and attack the party's activities. How can elections be held by prohibiting parties like this?'