Nepali Congress Leaders Discuss Dispute Resolution After Special Convention

Leaders of the Nepali Congress have begun to say that the dispute that arose after the new leadership was elected in the special general convention held at the end of Poush has started to move towards resolution from Wednesday. Leaders say that the dispute has started to move towards resolution after President Gagan Thapa met the top leaders of the Sher Bahadur Deuba group and Dr. Shekhar Koirala group, who did not accept the special general convention, at their residences and secretariats.

We have asked Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, a leader of the Deuba group, which opposed the special general convention, 'Is the political dispute within the party moving towards resolution?' We have also asked him what the establishment side needs to do to resolve the dispute.

Here is the conversation with Dr. Mahat:

• After the special general convention, Congress was divided into two poles - one in favor of the regular general convention and the other in favor of the special general convention. With the Supreme Court's decision, the dispute has been legally resolved. What efforts are being made to resolve it politically and ideologically?

We are in favor of the Nepali Congress uniting and moving forward even stronger. The special general convention was not held with everyone's participation. A large number, a majority, were outside when the special general convention was held. Our point was that it should be resolved through the regular general convention, after the elections. Despite that, some friends moved forward with the special general convention. The Election Commission and even the Supreme Court upheld it. We have always said that it was not based on reality.

However, after the Supreme Court has made a decision, legally there is no objection to it, but politically, how to strengthen the party is still a relevant issue. It is necessary to resolve the psychological and other distances and differences within the party.

To resolve that issue, only if the 15th General Convention is held impartially and with respectful participation, with everyone's ownership, will the party unite and move forward strongly. Just as the late B.P. Koirala used to unite all leaders when he led, now when a majority was not participating in the special general convention, the reality that the 15th General Convention must be impartial and with everyone's respect and ownership to unite the party is not missed by anyone.

Legally, Gaganji (Gagan Thapa) has become the President and has been recognized. That side alone will not unite the party. Therefore, to make the 15th General Convention credible, we are saying that a consensus mechanism should be formed, which will complete the convention with everyone's representation. The active membership was decided when the party was united, with the participation of Gaganji and others, and was finalized under Gaganji's leadership. Since renewal has been completed, and in the current adverse situation, physical presence in municipalities and wards is not practical and necessary, a mechanism should be formed to complete the convention. We are saying that if the convention is held in this way, everyone will accept the elected leadership with ownership.

• Once President Gagan Thapa met alone, and another time with Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma and former acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka. Leaders have also said that this will be an 'ice breaker' for dispute resolution. What was discussed? Are the efforts to resolve the dispute moving forward positively?

I don't know the details of the meeting. Purnaji had called and told me something. He said that he conveyed our mutual discussion that these matters need to be resolved by bringing friends together. They also said how to resolve it, what to do? They said they would try to persuade and explain. But nothing concrete has come out yet.

There is not much time, so it must be resolved in time. Otherwise, the party will face difficulties, and the party's leading role will face further challenging situations. I have said that this will further weaken the party.

• You are saying that the membership renewal for the 15th General Convention has already been done, so it doesn't need to be done again, but establishment leaders say that the files of renewed memberships were burnt, let's update those renewed members, make them online, it will be easier later. Where is the dispute in this?

The office being burnt has not affected the membership. Records are available in the districts. It is possible to show where it is burnt and where it is not. Therefore, that is not a problem and there is no need for it. Records should be available in all districts, and if not in the districts, then in the constituencies. Therefore, if any part is missing or the record is not there, it would have been better to ask for it to be sent again. In the current adverse situation, it is not possible for everyone to be present. Therefore, friends do not consider this matter practical. Those who have left the party or have not supported the party, the local level friends know this. They could have been removed from the local level. Therefore, there is no need to test the renewed membership again.

The special convention is a temporary arrangement. Therefore, all the divisions and protections that are happening now - senior National Assembly leader Krishna Sitoula was removed. This has added further complexity to keeping the party united, this should not be done. We all want to make the party strong. If the institution is strong, if the party is strong, we will all be strong. No individual will achieve any result by becoming strong by weakening the party. This is a reality, and now that we are out of power, it is necessary to make the party even stronger and more mature.

As the Congress is a party with a long history, only a strong and united party can work as a strong opposition. After the 15th General Convention with everyone's participation, we can provide a new direction, take the agendas forward, evaluate and review the government's shortcomings or good and bad deeds based on reality, and oppose any tendency that weakens democracy and weakens the country. Our role can be strong in this. Otherwise, it can become even more sluggish.

• Are you not in favor of updating the active membership?

We have no intention or motive to oppose for the sake of opposition. Grassroots workers across the country, our party structure across the country are saying that the plan brought now is not practical, it will further break the party. In many places now, no one will come, they are outside. The question of why they would come for an update will arise. Friends say that this will further limit the party.

• What should the establishment side do to hold a unified general convention, and what are you willing to be flexible about?

Currently, Gaganji has been legally recognized, and we have accepted it. Whether we like it or not, whether the decision from the relevant body is based on reality or not, we, as soldiers of a party advocating for the rule of law, accept the decision made by the body given the responsibility. However, the problem within the party must be resolved politically. To resolve it, we are saying that the 15th General Convention must ensure impartiality, respect, and ownership. For this, a consensus mechanism should be formed to complete the convention, move forward with the election process, and finalize the active membership.

If this happens, whoever comes will be readily and easily accepted by everyone, and the party led by such leadership will be strong. The officially recognized person should take the initiative for this and try to resolve it quickly with a positive signal. Gaganji should take the initiative.