The Tamesis
kathmandu – The second special congress of the Nepali Congress Party has been extended to Tuesday after discussing the report submitted by party general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, according to party officials.
Madhav Prasad Chamlaghan, member secretary of the Extraordinary Congress Publicity Subcommittee, said the discussion on the report submitted by party general secretaries Thapa and Sharma was still ongoing, hence the need to extend the meeting. He said the process of electing new leadership would also begin on Tuesday once deliberations are concluded.
The special congress convened by the two general secretaries, which has been held in Kathmandu since Sunday, is currently meeting behind closed doors at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu.
With the Assembly likely to elect a new leadership, party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, who had earlier resolutely refused to respond to the general secretary’s call, has now begun consultations with senior leaders and legal experts, citing concerns over potential legal and constitutional crises. With most of the Assembly delegates reportedly opposed to him, Deuba held a meeting with close aides, senior leaders and lawyers at his Maharajgunj residence.
According to party sources, former Attorney General Kamba Bahadur Khadi, advocate Yogendra Bahadur Adhikari and leaders including Shekhar Koirala and Acting President Pune Bahadur Khadkar were present.
This closed meeting approved by-laws allowing the General Secretary to propose the dissolution of the existing Central Working Committee and the formation of a new Central Working Committee until the next regular congress.
Supporters of the Extraordinary Congress argue that the term of the committee elected by the 14th Congress has expired, making an immediate change of leadership necessary before the upcoming elections.
Party leaders said discussions between Deuba and the two general secretaries are expected to take place later on Monday as the convention enters a decisive phase.
“Party president Deuba will hold discussions with the general secretary in the evening,” the party’s publication secretary Min Bahadur Biswakarma said on Monday.
