Year in Review: Nepali Congress Faces Internal Turmoil and Political Setbacks in 2082

Kathmandu. For those following the Nepali Congress, the year 2082 will be remembered for three key reasons.

One: The Congress party faced its weakest performance in history during the House of Representatives election held on Falgun 21.

The Congress managed to win only 18 seats under the first-past-the-post system and 20 seats under the proportional representation system, representing only 13.82 percent of the 275-member House of Representatives.

Congress at its weakest point in the House of Representatives

Two: A special general convention was organized within the Congress from Poush 27 to 30. The convention announced a new central working committee, including office bearers, under the chairmanship of Gagan Thapa. The new committee was selected through a special convention held without the consent of the incumbent president and the central committee.

This is the new working committee elected under the leadership of Gagan Thapa from the Congress special general convention (with list)

This special convention was held at the initiative of then-General Secretaries Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, following the call of 2,488 convention representatives, without the decision of the central working committee and against the disagreement of the group led by Sher Bahadur Deuba, who became president from the 14th General Convention held in 2078, and leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala.

After this special convention, the dispute within the Congress reached its peak. On the morning of Magh 1, a new working committee was announced. Leaders including President Thapa reached the Election Commission to update the committee. The commission approved their request on Magh 2.

Against this, the Deuba and Dr. Koirala group filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court on Magh 4, claiming legitimacy and naming the central working committee selected from the special convention and the Election Commission as defendants. The writ is still pending. Following the Election Commission's decision, the office bearers and central working committee members elected from the 14th General Convention have become positionless, while those selected from the special convention are currently in a valid status.

Three: The Congress party was devastated during the Gen-Z movement on Bhadra 23 and 24. On Bhadra 24, President Deuba and his wife, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, were severely beaten at their residence in Budhanilkantha. Arson and vandalism occurred at the party's central office and 48 district party offices.

48 district offices and central office of Nepali Congress destroyed by fire

The homes of 8 office bearers, including President Deuba, and 36 leaders were subjected to arson and vandalism.

The houses of 36 leaders including 8 Congress office bearers were burnt down (with names)

Three dates for the 15th General Convention

The Congress statute states that the general convention should be held every 4 years. Since the 14th General Convention was held in Mangsir 2078, the 15th General Convention should have been held by Mangsir 2082. The dispute arose over when to hold that convention. Due to the dispute, the 15th General Convention dates were announced three times—twice by the committee from the 14th General Convention and once by the committee from the special convention.

One announced date has already passed. There is no possibility of holding the convention on the remaining two dates either, as the dates announced with the consent of both parties have passed. A new date for the convention is likely to emerge only after the legitimacy dispute pending in the Supreme Court is resolved.

On Mangsir 15, the central working committee meeting decided to hold the party's 15th General Convention in Kathmandu from Poush 26 to 28, 082.

Congress decides to hold general convention on Poush 26, 27 and 28

After it became clear that the convention would not be held on that date, the performance committee meeting held on Poush 18 decided to change the date of the convention to Baisakh 28 to 31.

Proposal to hold Congress general convention on Baisakh 28-31 passed

These two dates for the general convention were set by the central committee that came from the 14th General Convention.

However, another date has been set by the working committee from the special convention. The meeting of the Thapa-led working committee held on Chaitra 10 and 11 decided to hold the 15th General Convention in Kathmandu from Asoj 16 to 19, 083.

Congress meeting: Decision to hold 15th General Convention in upcoming Asoj

2 General Secretaries and 1 Joint General Secretary expelled from the party for 5 years

The central working committee meeting held on Poush 30 decided to take action against then-General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Joint General Secretary Farmullah Mansoor, stating that they held a gathering called a special convention against their disagreement and the decision of the central working committee meeting.

That decision was rejected by the supporters of the special convention from the hall of the special convention. However, the Deuba group has mentioned in the Supreme Court writ that the special convention held by individuals whom they have expelled, even stripping them of their ordinary membership, is not valid. Whether that action will be valid or not will be decided only after the Supreme Court's verdict.

President Thapa's resignation rejected

Stating that the party suffered an unexpected defeat in the House of Representatives election held on Falgun 21, Thapa, who was elected president from the special convention, resigned from his post on Chaitra 5. The central working committee meeting held the next day, Chaitra 6, rejected his resignation.

So much so that even the individuals he himself placed in the central committee were present, and not a single person appeared to be in favor of accepting his resignation. After his resignation was rejected unanimously, he called a meeting himself two days later and announced the date for the 15th General Convention.

General Secretary Poudel's two arguments about 082

General Secretary Pradeep Poudel has made two arguments regarding the Congress in 082. As his first argument, General Secretary Poudel said that there is no need to be disappointed just by losing one election. 'Congress is a historical party. Congress has lost elections sometimes and won sometimes,' Poudel told Ratopati, 'There is no situation to be disappointed. What are the weaknesses? We have got an opportunity to identify and correct them and move forward, and we should move forward accordingly.'

Regarding the dispute seen in the party after the special convention, General Secretary Poudel said that now we should not go to the court, but to the convention. Poudel said, 'We respect the senior guardian leaders. We will follow their guidance. Let us move forward for the main interest of the party. Let us hold the party's unity convention in 083. I appeal for cooperation from everyone.'