Those speaking at the gathering have demanded an immediate announcement of the date, asking why the constitution included a provision for that if the special general convention would result in the party splitting.
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Leaders in favor of a special general convention of the Congress have demanded that the participation of Gen Zs be increased through amendments to the party constitution. They argue that a special general convention is necessary for that as well.
Addressing a gathering organized in the capital on Wednesday with the aim of pressuring the party to convene a special general convention, leader Gururaj Ghimire said that it would not be possible to go to the elections without cleaning the dirty face of the party that has been immersed in the pursuit of power. He demanded that the special general convention be announced soon.
Taking a dig at the difficulty facing the leaders in accepting the provisions made in the party constitution, Ghimire said, "It is mentioned in the Gita that those who do not follow the laws and rules will not be saved not only in this world but also in the next world. Our leaders should understand that those who do not follow the laws and rules will not have their interests not only in this world but also in the next world."
The gathering, chaired by former Congress leader Omkar Prasad Shrestha, was attended by the provincial working committee chairman, district chairman, party central members and general convention representatives. Shrestha, 88, who participated in the special general convention in 2014, has also signed in favor of the special general convention. In 2014, party president Suvarna Shumsher called a special general convention and handed over the party leadership to BP Koirala.
On that occasion, supporters of the general convention strongly opposed the statements targeted at them that the path taken by BP and Suvarna Shumsher was going to split the party. Those who spoke at the gathering demanded that the date be announced immediately if the special general convention would split the party.
The statute has a mandatory provision in the statute that a special general convention should be called within 3 months if 40 percent of the representatives sign the demand. 54 percent of the representatives of the 14th general convention have already submitted an application to the party central office on Asoj 29, demanding a special general convention.
Kaski District President Kishore Dutt Baral said that a special general convention should be called, saying that a regular general convention is no longer possible. The gathering of those in favor of the special general convention is currently underway at the Rashtriya Yasbha Griha on Exhibition Road.
On the other hand, the leaders have been active in seeking consensus ahead of Thursday's central working committee meeting. President Shebarhadur Deuba is ready to put forward a flexible proposal for consensus through acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka and central member Ramesh Lekhak. Similarly, 28 central members who are still in the establishment party have suggested that President Deuba put forward a middle-of-the-road proposal, saying that they should be flexible to hold the general convention before the election. However, another team including former office bearers is still adamant that the schedule before Baisakh cannot be accepted.
Acting president Khadka and central member Lekhak have spoken to general secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma after discussions with the president. On that occasion, the general secretaries have indicated that they can agree if a schedule is reached to hold the regular general convention without withdrawing the request for the special general convention.
‘But the problem is that a team including former office bearers of the establishment party is adamant that the general convention should not be held before Baisakh under any circumstances, while the other side is adamant that the general convention should be held before that,’ said an official, ‘so far, no consensus has been found.’
