Kathmandu, August 18

The tenure of Nepal Student Union, a sister wing of Nepali Congress, has been extended for three months to hold its 12th general convention.

The two-year term of NSU central working committee was set to expire today due to its failure to hold the general convention and elect a new committee. A press release issued by the NC today said that the NSU’s tenure was extended until November 18 during which its general convention would be held.

After the incumbent office-bearers of NSU pledged to hold the general convention within three months, its tenure was extended accordingly. NSU has yet to draft its statute as per the federal set-up. The dispute over the age bar threshold for candidates in NSU has been taken as obstacle to holding the general convention on time.

However, some influential student leaders, who are above 32 years of age, have opposed the age bar, saying that the organisation is run by agenda and ideology, not age. They have been lobbying party leaders to roll back the provisions relating the age of candidates.

On August 16, NSU had set 32 years as the threshold for filing candidacy in its elections. A Steering Committee had also amended NSU’s statute setting the age bar in a manner to be applicable from the 12th general convention.