Political Turmoil in Nepali Congress Amid Gen Z Protests
The recent wave of protests led by Generation Z against corruption in Nepal has sparked significant unrest, resulting in 74 deaths. This growing discontent is putting immense pressure on traditional political parties, particularly the long-standing Nepali Congress. The party, which has been a cornerstone of Nepalese politics for decades, is now facing strong calls for internal restructuring.
At the center of this turmoil is Sher Bahadur Deuba, the current president of the Nepali Congress. After being attacked by protesters on September 9, his home was vandalized and set on fire, and he was physically assaulted. Deuba is currently recovering at the Nepali Army Hospital in Chhauni. Despite his condition, a campaign has emerged demanding a special general convention to restructure the party and replace its old leadership.
Led by General Secretary Gagan Thapa and senior leader Shekhar Koirala, dozens of general convention representatives have launched a signature campaign calling for this special meeting. They argue that the party must adapt to the challenges posed by the Gen Z movement. However, the party establishment, aligned with Deuba, has criticized the initiative as “unfortunate.”
Prakash Sharan Mahat, a spokesperson for the party and a loyalist of Deuba, stated that it is inappropriate to call for a special convention while the party president is still recovering from the attack. He emphasized that discussions should wait until Deuba is fully recovered and can participate in the process.
On Monday, 109 general convention representatives signed the petition, urging others to join the campaign. Leaders close to Thapa-Koirala, including Gururaj Ghimire and Devraj Chalise, also added their names. The petition highlights the need for the party to address the current crisis and determine its future path. It states that the party has faced many challenges over the years but must now confront the present situation head-on.
The petition further criticizes the party’s policies and actions, claiming they are responsible for the unprecedented protests. It argues that the Congress needs an internal overhaul to address these issues. The signatories emphasize that the party has ignored critical suggestions and warnings about potential crises, leading to the current state of affairs.
According to clause 17(2) of the Congress statute, a special convention can be called if 40 percent of the Central General Convention members submit a written request. With 4,743 general convention representatives, the Thapa-Koirala faction would need support from nearly 2,000 members to initiate the process.
Bishwa Prakash Sharma, another general secretary of the party, has not publicly taken a stance on the restructuring, although some sources suggest he supports it. On Tuesday, Sharma stated that a central committee decision is needed to call for a special convention.
Senior Congress leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula has expressed concerns about the impact of a special convention on the party’s unity. He believes the regular convention should be held as scheduled, emphasizing the responsibility of the general secretaries to ensure timely proceedings.
The party had convened its 14th general convention in December 2021. By mid-December, the four-year term of all elected party bodies will expire, but the party remains unprepared for the regular convention just three months away. According to the party charter, the central working committee can extend the term of all elected bodies by six months. Additionally, Nepal’s constitution allows political parties an additional year of extension if they fail to hold their general conventions.
Last Friday, a meeting of former Congress officer bearers concluded that holding the general convention in December is almost impossible. They urged the party leadership to set a new date, especially with the new government announcing general elections for March 5. Holding the general convention in December has become unfeasible for the Congress.
The petition signatories argue that apart from a special general convention, there is no other forum to correct past mistakes and chart a better course for the party. They appeal to all members of the Nepali Congress to join this campaign and address the various questions raised about the leadership.
While these leaders have launched the signature campaign, party president Deuba and his aides are preparing to extend the term of all elected party bodies by one more year. Although Deuba commands a clear majority in the central committee, the deadline for the party’s 15th general convention by November or December is likely to be missed.
Sitaula emphasized that it is not the time to create noise and disturb the party. He believes the focus should be on moving towards the regular convention and ensuring active membership. A special convention, he argued, would destroy the party’s unity.
