Kathmandu, July 30

Amid differences between the establishment and rival factions of the Nepali Congress over the party’s 14th National Convention, a faction led by senior leader Ramchandra Paudel today met at the residence of NC leader Prakash Man Singh in Chaksibari, Thamel.

In the ongoing central working committee meeting that began on July 7, the establishment faction led by NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba has proposed forming interim committees on the basis of consensus before the national convention. However, rival factions led by Paudel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula have demanded adoption of a detailed work plan for the national convention.

The meeting was attended by leaders, including Paudel, Singh, Shashank Koirala and Arjun Narsingh KC.

KC said the meeting dwelt on how to conduct the national convention as soon as possible, because any delay would only harm the party.

“Our demand is adoption of detailed work plan and announcement of date of the national convention and work following due processes stipulated by the party statute,” said KC. “Interim committees cannot be formed by going beyond the statute provisions in the name of consensus.” He said consensus, by remaining within the boundaries of the statute, however, could be forged once the work plan and date were announced.

Meanwhile, today’s CWC meeting also ended without taking a decision on the upcoming national convention although CWC members presented their views today. The party is still not sure how to move forward with the national convection. The tenure of the existing central working committee ends in mid-March 2020.

“The CWC witnessed mixed opinions from party members, so we cannot yet say how the party is going to move forward,” said KC.

Before holding the national convention, the party needs to form interim committees in seven provinces, four districts (Rukim East, Rukum West, Nawalparasi East and Nawalparasi West), 165 federal electoral constituencies, 330 provincial electoral constituencies, 753 municipalities and rural municipalities, and 6,743 wards.

As per the provision in Article 72 (4) of the NC’s statute, the NC should constitute the above mentioned interim committees after which active membership will be issued. Once this process is completed, general convention representatives are elected. Each of the 165 federal electoral constituencies will elect 25 national convention representatives.

As per the statute’s provision for the transition phase, interim committees are constituted through the convention of representatives of the 13th National Convention.