NC 14th General Convention kicks off

KATHMANDU: The inauguration session of the 14th general convention of the major ruling party, the Nepali Congress, has commenced. Party leaders and workers from across the country have gathered at Bhrikuti Mandap, the venue of the general convention, for the program. 

Nepali Congress president and prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba garlanded the portraits of BP Koirala, Subarna Shumsher, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Girija Prasad Koirala and  Sushil Koirala on the occasion.  

The NC's 14th general convention has the theme – 'Motivation, Unity and Transformation'.

Processions of people accompanied by the traditional tableaus reached the venue from different parts of the Kathmandu Valley. The Panchebaja (an ensemble of five traditional musical instruments) played by women was the center of attraction at the inaugural program. Similarly, the cultural performances by the Tamang, Sherpa, Gurung, Tharu, Kirant Rai communities were other attractions of the inauguration.

Various communities have assembled at the program venue along with their respective cultural floats. 

The general convention venue has been decorated everywhere with the Nepali Congress' flag and an attractive stage has been constructed. The party workers from the Kathmandu Valley have put up various performances donning their typical Newari dress and playing the Dhime drums.

Four thousand and seven hundred representatives are attending the general convention that will run for three days from Friday. It will elect the party office-bearers including one president, two vice-presidents, two general secretaries and eight joint general secretaries. 

Similarly, it will elect a 134-member central working committee. The treasurer would be nominated by the central committee. 

The top leaders of the various parties in the ruling alliance are scheduled to give their congratulatory statements on the occasion. CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', CPN (Unified Socialist) chair Madhav Kumar Nepal, Janata Samjbadi Party chair Upendra Yadav and Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal vice-chair Durga Paudel are scheduled to address the general convention.

Similarly, Chair of CPN (UML), the main opposition party, KP Sharma Oli, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party chair Mahantha Thakur, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chair Rajendra Lingden are also scheduled to give their congratulatory statements in the inaugural session, wishing for the success of the general convention.

Leaders who have come from various countries including India are to address the session.