By Our Reporter

If all goes according to the party statute, the 15th general convention of the Nepali Congress should be held within this year (2025). However, considering the nature of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and delays being made in resolving the issue of active membership, the 15th convention looks unlikely within 2025. There are chances the present NC leadership may hold it only after the general elections of 2027.

Despite the uncertainty of the 15th general convention, many NC leaders have started launching pro-general convention activities by announcing their candidacy for the party president.

Dr. Shekhar Koirala, who lost the election of the party president to Deuba in the 14th general convention held in December 2021, has already announced his candidacy and touring districts. He has been exerting pressure on Deuba to hold the 15th convention on the scheduled date (December 2025.)

Koirala, the Congress’s dissident faction leader, began his campaign by convening a gathering of chiefs of the party’s local units on December 3 in his hometown Biratnagar, demanding that the 15th general convention be held by mid-December next year. Over the month, he toured many districts meeting leaders.

In February last year, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa proposed to hold the party’s 15th general convention on schedule—or by mid-December 2025.

Presenting an organisational paper at the ongoing Central Working Committee meeting of the party, Thapa proposed a timeline for concluding its next general convention by mid-December 2025.

Thapa himself is the next candidate for the post of the party president though he has not officially announced his candidacy.

Former General Secretary Shasank Koirala last week also announced his candidacy in Dolakha.

Purna Bahadur Khadka, Gopal Man Shrestha, Prakash Man Singh, Krishna Sitaula and Bimalendra Nidhi are other potential candidates for party president. All these leaders are trying to seek the support of Deuba. But by the time this report was prepared, Deuba had not said anything as to who would be his candidate. Deuba himself cannot contest the election for the third term as the statute does not allow any leader to serve the third term.

Obviously, Deuba will support the leader to the top party post who will ensure a position for his spouse Arzu Deuba in the central committee. Deuba wants Arzu to contest for the post of party general secretary and he will support him who makes Arzu his candidate for the post. However, it is not easy for any leader to make Arzu victorious. Instead, support for Arzu can backfire. As such, many leaders may not dare to make Arzu their candidate. But at the same time, no one can win an election without Deuba's support.  Amid this complex scenario, one cannot guess who will be able to get the support of the party president.  Naturally, Purna Bahadur Khadka looks successor for Deuba, but the latter has no confidence in him because it is not easy to defeat Dr. Shekhar Koirala. If Gagan Thapa and Shekhar stand together, Shekhar is sure to win. But if Gagan also contests the election, Purna Bahadur will have the chance of winning.  And if Gagan agrees to make Arzu his candidate for the post of general secretary, Deuba may back Gagan.  But the chances of support for Gagan look slim.