Kathmandu: General convention delegates have begun arriving in Kathmandu for the Nepali Congress’s second special general convention, scheduled to be held at Bhrikuti Mandap on Poush 10 and 11. With delegates arriving in large numbers from across the country, political activity within the party has intensified.

Delegates from Koshi Province have also started reaching the capital. Nepali Congress Koshi Province Joint General Secretary Khadga Fago claimed that nearly two-thirds of the delegates from the province are in favor of the special general convention.

According to Fago, participation from Koshi Province has been enthusiastic. “Most of the delegates from our province will arrive in Kathmandu by today,” he said, adding that Koshi Province has around 728 general convention delegates, a majority of whom support the special convention.

Leadership Accused of Abandoning Party Ideals
Previously considered close to party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s faction, Fago said he shifted his position due to the party’s deteriorating condition and the need for internal transformation. He accused the current leadership of compromising the Nepali Congress’s values, principles and ideology for the sake of power.

“For us, the existence of the Nepali Congress is greater than any individual or faction,” Fago said. Referring to the Gen-G movement, he said the special general convention reflects the demand for change within the party. He also alleged that the Congress has become dependent on UML and Maoists, stressing the need to make the party stand independently again.

Fago said he is actively involved in coordinating delegates in Kathmandu and informed that 16 different committees have been formed to manage the convention-related activities.

Central Working Committee Urges Delegates to Stay Away
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee has urged general convention delegates not to participate in the gathering being called the special general convention.

Party central member Narayan Prakash Saud said the decision was taken during a meeting held at the party headquarters in Sanepa on Thursday. Speaking to the media, Saud said the statute does not authorize party office bearers to call a special general convention, especially when the schedule for a regular general convention has already been fixed.

“A special general convention is neither legal nor necessary under the current circumstances,” he said, adding that the meeting appealed to all office bearers and members from central to grassroots levels not to attend the gathering and to immediately halt it.

General Secretaries Stand Firm
The decision came after General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa refused to withdraw the call for the special general convention during the meeting. General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma have reiterated that the demand signed by 54 percent of general convention delegates cannot be ignored and that the special general convention will proceed as scheduled.

Supporters Reject Central Office Directive
Supporters of the second special general convention have rejected the directive issued by the Congress Central Office instructing delegates not to come to Kathmandu.

At a press conference on Thursday, Nepali Congress central member Ajay Babu Shiwakoti said the directive would be unanimously revoked by the second special general convention. He stated that those who once defied royal orders would not obey directives that go against the party statute.

Shiwakoti also said a Working Committee meeting has been called today, alleging that members supporting the special general convention are being repeatedly intimidated due to their active involvement in the movement.