NC Establishment Silent on Deuba Faction’s Five Conditions for Party Unity

Kathmandu / July 20: The establishment faction of the Nepali Congress has not responded to the five conditions put forward by the group led by former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba for maintaining unity within the party.

Speaking at a press conference held at the party’s central office on Monday, Vice President Bishwo Prakash Sharma addressed issues related to the party’s internal politics but did not comment on the conditions proposed by the Deuba faction.

Sharma said continuous discussions were underway among party president Gagan Kumar Thapa, the party leadership, and other members to create an environment that would ensure the participation of all leaders and members.

“I would like to clarify what is happening in the internal life of the Nepali Congress,” Sharma said. “Dialogue and discussions are being held among our respected party president Gagan Kumar Thapa, the entire Nepali Congress, and the party leadership with the objective of creating a conducive environment for everyone to participate in the party’s 15th General Convention. We are confident that these dialogues and discussions will conclude positively.”

He added that he wanted to make the party’s position clear at the outset in view of possible questions from journalists regarding the internal situation. However, he did not provide any details about the conditions set by the Deuba group.

The Deuba faction had held a press conference on Sunday and presented a five-point proposal aimed at preserving party unity. On behalf of the group, former head of the party’s Publicity Department, Min Bishwakarma, proposed that the central working committee led by Gagan Thapa be completed by integrating office bearers and members of the 14th General Convention working committee with the special convention committee.

The group also proposed the formation of an executive committee in which President Thapa would retain a majority, and that the reconstituted central working committee should announce the schedule for the 15th General Convention.

In addition, the Deuba faction demanded that various committees related to the General Convention be formed with a majority representation from the current establishment side. It also stressed that active party membership is the most important basis for the convention and called for all active members already validated by the committee headed by current president Gagan Kumar Thapa (then general secretary) to be automatically eligible to participate in the 15th General Convention, with their records entered digitally.

At the press conference, Sharma said efforts were being made to reach a consensus and that an agreement would help create an environment in which the General Convention could be held smoothly.