Kathmandu, Sept 16: Former Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged party leaders and cadres to prepare for the party’s 15th general convention scheduled for November.
The rival faction has come under pressure after leaders, including Purna Bahadur Khadka decided to remain with the establishment faction following its decision to allow members of the central working committee elected at the 14th general convention to retain their positions and participate in the 15th convention.
Deuba had remained largely silent after efforts to unite the two factions failed. He has now called the rival faction’s special general convention illegal and urged party leaders and cadres to participate in the convention scheduled for November 21 to 23.
“I want to assure you of the need to end the differences currently seen within the party and work in unity to prepare for the 15th general convention to be held on November 21, 22 and 23,” Deuba said.
He described the group that emerged from the special general convention as a faction rather than the party itself, arguing that the convention was held illegally in violation of the party’s rules, statute, procedures, traditions and decisions of the Central Working Committee.
Deuba accused the establishment faction of trying to move ahead unilaterally after announcing its schedule for the 15th general convention. He warned that attempts to proceed by ignoring the majority of party members would not serve the long-term interests of those involved.
He also claimed that the results of the House of Representatives election held last November had already disproved the claims of popularity made by leaders supporting the special general convention.
Deuba said party leaders, cadres and the Nepali public had yet to receive an answer as to why the allegedly illegal special general convention was held.
He also argued that proceeding with the convention process before the Supreme Court reaches a final decision on the legality of the special general convention would violate the party’s rules and established legal principles, as the issue remains sub judice.
“Through this appeal, I sincerely request all Nepali Congress leaders and cadres not to participate in the convention organised by the group that emerged from the illegal special general convention,” Deuba said.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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