Kathmandu: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has insisted that the party’s 15th General Convention must be held before the House of Representatives elections scheduled for Falgun 21. He made this remark while presenting the convention agenda at the party’s Central Committee meeting on Monday.

“No Reason to Delay Convention”

Thapa argued that if the country can go into turmoil in 24 hours, there is no justification for delaying the General Convention for 64 days. He said the only thing that could obstruct the process is internal conflict, not technical or procedural reasons.

Membership Renewal Progress

According to Thapa, most of the membership work is nearly complete. The party had fixed Asoj as the deadline for membership renewal, and renewal has already been completed in 62 districts within a month, with 118,794 members renewed in 19 districts. In total, 399,254 memberships, including 190,470 new ones from 46 districts, have been uploaded to the system.

Delays Due to Protests

Thapa acknowledged delays in six districts due to protests and arson, but said all remaining work could be completed within a week if the renewal deadline is extended.

Target of 500,000 New Memberships

The party aims to finalize both old and new memberships and add nearly 500,000 new members between Mangsir 10 and 20. Thapa said Congress could complete within a month what used to take three months before.

Opening Party Structure for All

Thapa stressed that party membership should be open, accessible, and include equal participation in decision-making. He proposed mandatory representation of youth, women, and diverse communities at all levels.

Proposed Convention Schedule

Ward-level conventions have been scheduled for Mangsir 10, followed by representative assemblies and regional conventions on Poush 5 and 6. Municipal, district, and provincial conventions are planned by Poush 16.

Statute Amendment and Internal Democracy

Thapa highlighted the need for major statute amendments, including provisions allowing every active member to choose candidates. He also rejected allegations that he and the other general secretary are trying to capture the party.

Call for New Leadership Culture

Thapa stated that without renewing the party’s leadership style, the Congress cannot gain public trust. He emphasized that youth under 30 must be represented from ward to central level, calling generational change a necessity, not a slogan.

Reforming Candidate Selection

He proposed that candidate selection should begin at the grassroots, where active members prioritize capable and popular leaders. This, he said, would end the tradition of top-level imposition and strengthen internal democracy.

Urgency for Dialogue With Citizens

Thapa admitted that the public is not ready to trust Congress again and stressed the need for direct dialogue with citizens. He said the party must show that its values remain unchanged but its approach has evolved.

“No Election Without Convention”

Concluding his agenda, Thapa warned that Congress cannot face the people without holding a General Convention. If the full convention is not possible in time, he suggested organizing at least a special convention as an alternative.