HimalPress | English
NC convention in January unlikely if not impossible
KATHMANDU: The shortest time taken to finalize the distribution of active membership of Nepali Congress (NC) is eight months. This is considered the minimum time required to finalize party membership before a general Convention.
Active membership is a vital component of the NC’s structure. It is a mandatory requirement for party cadres to compete from the ward and municipal levels up to the central level, or to become a general convention representative. Because of this, the distribution and renewal of active memberships become controversial before every convention.
The NC has decided to hold its 15th General Convention in Kathmandu on January 10-12, after a long internal tug-of-war following the Gen Z protests of September 8 and 9. However, preparations have not gained momentum even though the deadline is approaching fast. Like in the previous years, the party is finding it difficult to meet its timeframe due to complications in active membership distribution. With less than three weeks remaining, leaders have started admitting that the possibility of holding the convention on the scheduled date has almost vanished.
Some leaders say discussions among top leaders regarding the new dates have already begun. They say meeting the deadline to finalize active membership distribution looked impossible from the outset. Now, the problem with membership forms has further complicated the matter. The dispute arose after some party units were sent membership forms without serial numbers.
“We cannot imagine a convention without finalizing memberships,” one official said. “Since hundreds of thousands of people are eager to join the party, we cannot move ahead by excluding them. The deadline to finalize active membership is far too short to complete the necessary vetting and public claim/objection processes.”
The process requires forms to move from the center through districts and regions down to the wards. Wards must unanimously finalize names, which are then published on the party website for public scrutiny. If claims or objections are filed, investigation committees must resolve them.
While Membership Management Committee members like Yogendra Chaudhary claim they are resolving the serial number issue and extending deadlines for the party’s international wings (Canada, UK, Australia, and Japan), local leaders tell a different story. A constituency committee chairperson from Dhanusha said they received membership forms only a few days ago – nearly two weeks later than what was stated in the convention calendar. “Since local units were sent membership forms rather late, it will be difficult to finalize active membership within the given timeframe,” he added.
Many leaders blame General Secretary Gagan Thapa, who is also the coordinator of the Membership Management Committee, for not taking the issue seriously. His working style was questioned during Central Working Committee meetings by members such as Dina Upadhyaya and Meenakshi Jha. Following concerns raised by former Vice President Bimalendra Nidhi and leader Dr Shekhar Koirala, President Deuba intervened and instructed the committee to send membership forms with serial numbers.
As per the official schedule, distribution of new active memberships must be completed by December 23 and the final list submitted to the Central President or Acting President by December 29. However, party leaders now say that given the current pace of work, the possibility of holding the general convention on January 10-12 has effectively vanished.
Dhirendra Kumar Nidhi, the president of Dhanusha-3 Committee, explained that ward conventions cannot take place until these membership issues are fully resolved. He added that the process must follow a strict sequence, beginning with ward conventions and moving through municipal, constituency, and district levels before culminating in provincial conventions. With the deadline rapidly approaching and a significant volume of work still pending, he believes it is nearly impossible to conduct the convention within the set timeframe.
Even if the leadership manages to accelerate the pace, they admit that the January 10 target is out of reach. According to the published calendar, village and municipal ward conventions are set for December 31, followed immediately by municipal conventions on January 1, provincial constituency conventions on January 3, and House of Representatives constituency conventions on January 5. Additionally, district conventions are scheduled for January 6, and provincial conventions are slated for January 7 and 8.
Mahendra Yadav, a joint general secretary and Coordinator of the Active Membership Investigation Committee, also voiced uncertainty regarding the convention schedule. He admitted that the remaining time is insufficient to meet the heavy requirements of the current calendar. “We are making all efforts to move forward as per the convention calendar even though we have very little time,” Yadav said.
The government is preparing to hold House of Representatives elections on March 5. While the government has been saying that it is committed to holding the polls, political parties have been maintaining that the environment conducive for elections has yet to be created.
The NC spent nearly a month and a half debating whether to hold the convention before or after this election. As the possibility of holding the general convention in the second week of January fades, the faction advocating for holding the convention only after the election is gaining strength. Leaders close to President Deuba are now saying that since the deadline of the second week of January is not reachable, postponing the convention after the election is the most appropriate path forward.
