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By Our Reporter

At a time when Nepali Congress leaders Dr. Shekhar Koirala and Gagan Kumar Thapa are touring the country as part of the preparation for the 15th general convention of the party, which should be held by mid-December this year, party spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat recently ruled out the possibility of holding the general convention on the scheduled date.

Mahat, a leader close to party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, ruled out the possibility of holding the convention within the mid-December deadline.

Missing the convention deadline is not a new thing for NC. Even the 14th general convention was delayed by 18 months in 2021 as party president Deuba extended his term citing different excuses.

However, the delay in holding the general convention has become a point of contention among party leaders and cadres.

While the rival factions led by Dr. Koirala and Thapa have already initiated campaigns for the 15th general convention announcing their candidacy for the post of the party president, Deuba has been unable to pick his successor. This is one reason for the delay.

 Deuba is ineligible to run for re-election as president because no leader could become party president for more than two terms according to the statute of the party. But he is under increasing pressure to name his successor as rival factions expedite their preparation for the presidential race.

 On Friday, a number of influential NC leaders, including former office-bearers, visited Deuba at his residence. These leaders, who had rallied behind Deuba during the 14th General Convention, sought clarity from Deuba on who would be the presidential candidate from the establishment faction in the upcoming convention. They urged Deuba to appoint a successor from among them to ensure smooth leadership transitions.

However, Deuba said nothing about his plan. Deuba wants to establish his spouse Arzu Rana in the party and he will choose the leader as his successor who can manage the post of general secretary for Rana.