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Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has proposed December 13–14 as the dates to hold the party’s special convention to elect new leadership.

Speaking at the party’s ongoing Central Committee meeting, Thapa said that since some leaders have not agreed to hold the regular convention promptly, the party should instead go for a special convention, which will pave the way for a regular general convention within a short time.

Amid internal disputes over the timing of the convention, Thapa said that the ongoing Central Working Committee must take the decision to hold the special convention on December 13–14. For a long time, Thapa has maintained that the party should go for the general convention to choose new leadership before the national elections which has been scheduled for March 5.  

“Our convention is not just an internal matter; it is a national issue,” Thapa said. He added that it is inappropriate to invite party President Sher Bahadur Deuba to “save the party,” as doing so ultimately harms him. Thapa reminded party members that President Deuba had already instructed that the convention be conducted within the given timeframe. “He (the party president) has already stepped aside, and now it is we who must take responsibility,” Thapa said. “When we proposed holding the regular general convention, no one agreed. Therefore, we must hold a special general convention and elect a president from it. 

Thapa also urged party leaders not to complicate matters, saying that President Deuba has already eased the process. Of the 4,743 general convention representatives from the Nepali Congress’s 14th General Convention, 2,488 submitted their signatures to Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka, demanding a special general convention. 

On national politics, Thapa said that the party must move forward by addressing public dissatisfaction while protecting the constitution and the current system. As the largest party, the Nepali Congress must lead this process, he said. Thapa’s remarks come at a time of widespread criticism that the NC is stuck in internal disputes while the country faces a deep political crisis and a vacuum of leadership.

“Regarding how to move forward now, there are three possibilities. One is that polarization will increase and violence will intensify. The second is that through elections we may return to the situation before September 8, or things may move ahead with only temporary fixes. Neither of these options allows Nepal to progress. Therefore, we must choose the third path,” Thapa said in the meeting. “The third path means addressing the current dissatisfaction, managing it, and moving forward while safeguarding the constitution and the system. This responsibility must be taken up by the Nepali Congress.” He claimed that no one except the Congress can lead this process. “No one else can do this work. The CPN–UML cannot do it. It is not in UML’s character. The UML might spread agitation instead,” he said. After the Gen-Z movement, Thapa’s plan to reform the party has met strong resistance from senior party leaders.

The Election Commission has called on political parties wishing to participate in the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) and National Assembly (NA) elections to register.

The Commission issued a notice today stating that party registration is open from November 17 to 26 for the parties to register for participation in the HoR election and from November 17 to 23 for participation in the NA election. 

The notice states, "We request parties wishing to participate in the elections to submit an application to the Commission along with a copy of the decision made by the party's central committee, the annual audit report, and other necessary documents."

The Commission has stated that if two or more parties wish to contest the House of Representatives elections using the same election symbol, information regarding this must also be submitted along with the application. The notice states, "It is requested to submit the party's constitution, regulations and manifesto, a sample of the election symbol, and also its electronic copy."

Elections for one-third of the NA seats that will fall vacant from March 4, 2026 have been scheduled for January 25 and the elections to the Member of the House of Representatives have been set for March 5, 2026.

Uncertainty over the March 5 national elections looms large, as political parties remain unprepared. According to Prime Minister Sushila Karki, around 65 percent of election-related preparations have been completed. The government is also preparing a comprehensive security plan for the polls. However, concerns persist over whether Nepal Police can effectively maintain security, given its low morale and shortage of arms and ammunition. Defense analysts have ruled out deploying the Nepali Army on the frontline.

Meanwhile, the CPN-UML has taken to the streets in protest against the Karki-led government. The party organized demonstrations across local levels this week and has planned a series of mass protests in Kathmandu. It has refused to participate in elections conducted by the current government, calling it unconstitutional. The UML’s roadmap centers on the restoration of parliament, the formation of an all-party government, and the eventual conduct of early elections.

In contrast, the Nepali Congress remains without a clear and firm position, while the CPN (Maoist Centre) has expressed readiness to go to the polls. The Nepali Army, for its part, has already communicated to all stakeholders that it has no intention of taking over power, warning that such a move would only worsen the country’s political instability.

In the coming days, the focus will be on Nepal’s evolving political roadmap. Possible scenarios include a postponement of elections to April or May while allowing the Karki government to continue, or the formation of a consensus government among major political forces, followed by a new election announcement. Rumors have also surfaced about the possibility of a Chief Justice-led caretaker cabinet, similar to that of the 2013 second Constituent Assembly elections.

Adding to the uncertainty, President Ramchandra Paudel’s next move remains unclear. He had appointed Prime Minister Karki with the mandate to hold elections within six months. However, tensions between the two have reportedly grown after Karki dismissed the President’s proposal to include political party representatives in the cabinet. The President is also said to be dissatisfied with the lack of dialogue between the Prime Minister and political parties, a key prerequisite for holding credible elections.

However, the Election Commission (EC) has been active in engaging political parties to create a conducive environment for the polls. The EC is currently in consultations to finalize the election code of conduct.

Interestingly, not only traditional parties but even new political groups have expressed reluctance to hold elections on March 5, citing inadequate preparation time. Some representatives of the GenZ movement, including Sudan Gurung, have warned that they will not accept elections unless their demands are addressed first. Political observers estimate that it could take at least a year to manage the ongoing transition.

Security tensions also remain high. The Nepal Police has arrested around 500 people across the country for their alleged involvement in arson and vandalism during the Sept 8–9 protests. Critics, however, argue that the protesters should not be criminalized, as the demonstrations were a form of revolt. Earlier, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal’s directive not to arrest protesters had sparked opposition from Nepal Police’s top brass. Now, Aryal finds himself under fire from both GenZ protestors and political parties.

Within the Nepali Congress, internal disputes over its upcoming general convention remain unresolved. There are growing fears that the party could split if it fails to settle the issue soon. The party has also begun collecting signatures from its lawmakers, a move interpreted as preparation to push for parliament restoration.

Meanwhile, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, now leading the Nepali Communist Party, has emphasized his readiness for elections but remains open to parliament restoration. He has succeeded in bringing 12 fringe communist parties under his fold and has once again become a vocal critic of KP Sharma Oli. In a related development, Bhim Rawal, who had left UML a few years ago, has joined Dahal’s NCP.

The number of political parties registered with the Election Commission has now exceeded 125, with around two dozen new applications under review. Following the GenZ protests, which toppled major political parties from power, a new wave of actors—including businesspeople, independent politicians, celebrities, and others—have shown interest in joining politics. Since the March 5 election announcement, the EC has received 21 new party registration applications.

For comparison, in the 2022 elections, 116 political parties were registered with the commission, though only 87 participated. Many of the new parties believe they can attract public support amid widespread disillusionment with mainstream political forces that have dominated power since 1990.

In other developments, President Paudel has removed Madhesh Province Head Sumitra Subedi and appointed Surendra Labh in her place. Meanwhile, Dan Bahadur Karki has taken charge as Inspector General of Nepal Police, succeeding Chandra Kuber Khapung. The new IGP faces the formidable challenge of boosting police morale and ensuring that the force can provide foolproof election security.

Controversial businessman Durga Prasai is reportedly planning street protests demanding the restoration of the monarchy. The government, however, is considering stopping the demonstrations, arguing they could further destabilize the fragile security environment. Home Minister Aryal has already held preliminary talks with Prasai, who has presented a 27-point list of demands, several of which are considered unrealistic and unconstitutional.

In another political development, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden and Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa held talks this week to explore party unification. In the aftermath of the GenZ movement, polarization among royalist forces is intensifying, with discussions underway on whether to contest the elections or push for a broader movement.

Additionally, Cabinet Minister Kul Man Ghising has registered a new political party under the leadership of former energy secretary Anup Kumar Upadhyay. However, Home Minister Aryal has said he will not allow Ghising to form a new party. Ghising has faced criticism within the cabinet for his political involvement, with colleagues arguing that since he joined the government to facilitate elections within six months, his engagement in party politics is inappropriate.

Nepal and India have signed an agreement which will facilitate the movement of rail-based freight between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal) including bulk cargo under an expanded definition.

The agreement was signed in a bilateral meeting between Anil Kumar Sinha, Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies and his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal, Minister for Commerce and Industry India. 

This liberalization extends to key transit corridors- Kolkata-Jogbani, Kolkata–Nautanwa (Sunauli), and Visakhapatnam–Nautanwa (Sunauli), thereby strengthening multimodal trade connectivity between the two countries and Nepal’s trade with third countries, according to a press statement issued by India. 

The Letter of Exchange (LoE) enables direct rail connectivity along the Jogbani–Biratnagar rail link for both containerized and bulk cargo, facilitating transport from the ports of Kolkata and Visakhapatnam to the Nepal Customs Yard cargo station located in Morang District, near Biratnagar in Nepal. This rail link, constructed with grant assistance from the Government of India, was jointly inaugurated by the Prime Ministers of India and Nepal on 1 June 2023.

The meeting also welcomed ongoing bilateral initiatives to enhance cross-border connectivity and trade facilitation, including the development of Integrated Check Posts and other infrastructure. India remains Nepal’s largest trade and investment partner, accounting for a significant share of its external trade, according to the statement.  These new measures are expected to further consolidate economic and commercial linkages between the two countries and beyond.