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The closed session of the Nepali Congress Special General Convention has formed a five-member election committee.

The election committee has been formed under the coordination of advocate Sitaram KC, dissolving the previous election committee.

The committee will determine the election procedures/guidelines and conduct the election.

The committee has been formed to take ahead the process of selecting new leadership from the general convention.

General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma presented political and organizational reports in Monday’s closed session. 

A closed session of the Special General Convention (SGC) of the Nepali Congress endorsed the SGC Working Procedure, 2082 on Monday. 

The closed session going on at Bhrikutimandap in the federal capital proposed the dissolution of the existing Central Executive Committee. 

According to the endorsed document, the term of the Central Executive Committee elected by the 14th General Convention (Dec10–14, 2021) has already expired. 

The document further stated that a new Central Executive Committee will be elected until the 15th General Convention is convened.

As per the approved working procedure, the Party President shall chair the Special Central General Convention. 

In the absence of the President, the senior-most member present, based on age, shall preside over the session.

Likewise, for the facilitation and continuity of the closed session under the Special General Convention, a five-member presidium shall be elected.

The closed session of the Special General Convention of the Nepali Congress (NC) underway in Kathmandu endorsed the SGC working procedure–2082 on Monday. 

The two-day convention began on Sunday, and the closed session commenced earlier today.

During the closed session, General Secretary Bishwo Prakash Sharma presented a report titled “Nation changed, and NC to be changed: A new journey towards harmony and prosperity.” 

As many as 2,662 general convention representatives of the Nepali Congress have registered their names in favor of the special general convention (SGC) that began at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu.

Eight stalls were set up on the first day of the event organized by a faction of NC supporting SGC. 

The general convention representatives had begun registering their names in favor of the SGC since 9 am Sunday.

Event coordination committee coordinator Yubraj Pandey informed the number of leaders in favor of SGC from Koshi Province stood 425, while from Madhes Province 446, from Bagmati Province 432, from Gandaki Province 296, from Lumbini Province 398, from Karnali Province 134, from Sudurpaschim Province 148, and Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur) 178 and from sister organizations, well wishers and liaison committees 195.

The registration will resume from 8 am on Monday, it was informed. 

The Nepali Congress leaders, who are in favour of the party's special general convention, have called for the special general convention as per party's statute.

Organizing a press conference today, they shared that the special general convention will be held on January 11 and 12. 

The leaders determined that the special general convention was indispensable to make the NC strong, dynamic and in favor of the people in the existing difficult political scenario as well as to rebuild the party along with political policy making. 

Out of total general convention representatives, 54.58 percent (2,488) representatives had registered applications at the party office on October 15, 2025, demanding a special general convention. 

Though the Article 17 (1) of the party statute has clearly mentioned that the party's 15th general convention should be held within December 1, 2025, it was not held on the slated date, argued the leaders. 

There is a provision that a special general convention should be called within three months if 40 percent members of the general convention make written requests for the same. 

Central committee members--Ajay Babu Siwakoti, Pratima Gautam, Prakash Snehi, Devraj Chalise, Jagadish Narsingh KC, Subas Pokharel, Manoj Mani Achary, among others said no one has the right to neglect such demand.

They also urged all central general convention representatives to participate in the special  general convention

Nepali Congress (NC) has decided to forge alliance with other political parties in the National Assembly election to be held on January 25. 

A meeting of the NC Central Work Execution Committee today took the decision to this effect, informed party chief-secretary Krishna Prasad Paudel. 

In today's meeting, general secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa, assistant general secretaries, Farmullah Mansoor and Jeewan Pariyar gave their opinion. 

Paudel informed that the committee's meeting will resume at 9 am on Wednesday.

Nepali Congress has urged National Assembly Chairman  Narayan Prasad Dahal to immediately call a session of the upper house of the Federal Parliament. 

A team led by the Nepali Congress National Assembly Chief Whip Krishna Bahadur Rokaya today called on Chairman Dahal to inform him about the decision of the Congress Parliamentary Party and made this request.

National Assembly members Kamala Devi Pant, Kiran Babu Shrestha, Bishnu Sapkota and Padam Pariyar, among others, participated in the meeting.

Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party meeting held on December 25 had decided to urge the National Assembly Chair Dahal  to convene a session, stating that the House of Representatives, the lower house, was dissolved unconstitutionally amid the changed political situation in the country.

The party has demanded the immediate convening of a National Assembly session, saying such a meeting is necessary because the Assembly is the only active body within the sovereign federal parliament that represents the voice of the people.

Nepali Congress leader Chandra Bhandari has announced his candidacy for the post of President at the party's 15th general convention.

Bhandari announced his candidacy for the party President via social media on Wednesday, saying that he is ready to move ahead in line with the interests of the people, values of democracy, and organizational needs.

Earlier, General Secretary Gagan Thapa had announced his candidacy for the post of President.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has formally presented an additional proposal to the party’s Central Committee, urging immediate steps to hold the 15th General Convention before the upcoming general election scheduled for March 5. 

In his proposal presented before the party’s Central Committee meeting on Monday, Thapa argues that the country’s political landscape has fundamentally changed since the Sept 8–9 GenZ uprisal, making a timely convention essential for the party’s credibility and renewal.

According to Thapa, the situation before and after the GenZ-led protests, which toppled the previous coalition government led by KP Sharma Oli, dissolved parliament and paved the way for an interim administration, was “completely different.” He said the unexpected national crisis shattered the political ground the party had been standing on.

“After the Sept 8-9 upheaval, the party cannot move forward with regular activities,” Thapa states in his proposal. He adds that in the new context, political parties across the spectrum are preparing for elections with fresh strategies, new leadership, and reorganized structures.

Thapa notes the Nepali Congress’s historical tradition of navigating moments of crisis through national gatherings, such as Mahasamiti sessions, special conventions and general conventions. “We cannot abandon that tradition,” he says, stressing that the party must present voters with renewed policies, leadership, and a clear political message before facing the electorate.

He also criticizes the party leadership for halting convention-related work for the past 45 days, arguing that the delay weakened the party’s political position and prevented necessary interventions in national politics. “Had the party allowed convention preparations to proceed as proposed in September, lower-level conventions would already have been completed,” he says.

On Monday, the party presented a revised schedule to conclude the central-level convention within 45 days. As per the party’s decision, the 15th General Convention will be held on Jan 10–12. Thapa describes the timeline as “highly challenging” but insists that the party must compensate for the time lost due to internal disagreements.

Thapa references the signatures of more than 54 percent of Central Committee members who on Oct 15 formally demanded a special general convention under Article 17(2) of the party statute. “Their intention was clear: the party must hold a convention (regular or special) before participating in the general election,” he states. 

He maintains that the party cannot face the general election, or the people, without a new mandate from the general convention. “Public trust cannot be secured through internal assurances alone. Our accountability lies with the Nepali people.” 

He also warns that if the 15th General Convention cannot be held for any reason by January, the party should not wait until the month’s end. Instead, it should immediately decide to move toward a special general convention. “In that situation, the party will have no choice,” he concludes.

Nepali Congress leader Dr Shashanka Koirala has said that the timeline set for the party's General Convention is insufficient.

Speaking to the media in Chitwan today, he stressed that at least three months of preparation are necessary to organize the General Convention. 

“The time is not sufficient for the event. If it is not possible to hold it within the stipulated timeframe, it will take place after the election announced for March 5, 2026,” he said. 

The NC Central Committee meeting, which concluded on Monday, has decided to hold the General Convention on January 10–12. 

He expressed the view that everyone associated with the party should prepare for the General Convention and that it should also include participation from Gen Z groups.

Responding to a media query, he said, “I was considering running for the post of party president. Shekhar is also in the race. Discussions are going on. One of us will contest for the post.”

A Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress has decided to hold a regular general convention in the second week of January.

The meeting held at the party office in Sanepa on Monday decided to hold the 15th general convention on January 10-12 in Kathmandu, party spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat informed.

Similarly, the meeting has set the deadline for distributing new active members until December 6.

The meeting has decided that the forms should be distributed to the wards by December 10 and the work of new active members should be completed by December 23, spokesperson Mahat said.

It has been decided to call for the complaints and the final list including the new ones will be submitted to the President on December 29 after investigating the complaints. 

The new active memberships will be distributed to new generations, leaders and cadres of other parties.

The convention of the liaison committees will be held by December 30, the village/town convention by December 31, and the provincial regional convention by January 3.

Regional conventions and the convention of districts with a single constituency will be held by January 5.

The district conventions of districts with more than one constituency are to take place by January 6, and the provincial conventions on January 7–8.

Similarly, as per the Central Committee decision, the term of the Central Committee, which is set to end on December 9, will be extended until mid-February, 2026.

Nepali Congress is yet to resolve the general convention issue that has gripped the party for more than two months. While General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa remains determined to hold the convention before the elections, fears of a possible party split continue to grow. If a special general convention is held as demanded by 54 convention representatives, the likelihood of a split cannot be ruled out.

Initially, party president Sher Bahadur Deuba appeared positive about holding the convention before the elections. However, after returning from Singapore where he underwent treatment, his stance has noticeably hardened. Meanwhile, around half a dozen senior leaders have begun openly criticizing Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma for creating troubles within the party. Amid these tensions, the NC is failing to articulate a clear position on the elections.

In an effort to find a way out, Thapa and senior leader Shekhar Koirala held consultations this week. Still, due to ongoing disagreements over the convention, the Central Working Committee meeting has once again been postponed until Saturday. Despite several rounds of talks between Deuba and Thapa, no breakthrough has emerged.

As intra-party uncertainty persists, the broader election atmosphere remains unsettled. Yet Prime Minister Sushila Karki has sounded increasingly confident about holding elections on schedule. Responding to CPN-UML’s demand for parliament restoration, she warned that attempts to revive Parliament could complicate the situation further. In a pointed message to UML, she said: “Even after the election has been announced, the confusion seen on the sidelines of politics within some parties, the demand for the reinstatement of Parliament, and the act of questioning the legitimacy of the government could once again push the nation into a cycle of instability… If one now chooses to take a stance in favor of reinstating Parliament, it only confirms an attempt to repeat the political mishap of the past.”

On Nov 19, Karki held discussions with representatives of the 125 political parties registered with the Election Commission, attempting to reassure them that elections will take place on time. Nevertheless, UML has officially decided to file cases at the Supreme Court demanding Parliament’s restoration.

Amid the legislative vacuum, the government is preparing to issue ordinances to ease appointments to constitutional bodies without parliamentary hearings. However, if the President endorses these ordinances, they are likely to draw widespread criticism, and may face legal challenges.

Adding to the volatility, the clash between GenZ protesters and UML cadres in Bara district marks a serious development. It comes at a time when political parties are already expressing concerns over the security environment for the elections. Many fear that similar incidents could escalate during the campaign period. In this context, a group led by Sudan Gurung is demanding the resignation of Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal and calling for the arrest of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli. Meanwhile, UML is preparing to stage large-scale protests in Kathmandu.

Parallel to this, efforts are underway to formalize a document between the government and various GenZ groups to institutionalize the Sept 8-9 protests. Around 40 GenZ groups have submitted demands to the government. While the current government, which rose to power on the wave of those protests, supports legitimizing the movement, major political parties continue to resist the idea.

Within UML, internal tensions are also intensifying. Chairman Oli has dismissed the possibility of handing over leadership to new leaders, even blocking former president Bidya Devi Bhandari’s potential return by scrapping her membership. Yet Bhandari’s influence remains significant. Senior leader Ishwar Pokharel, who enjoys her backing, is preparing to challenge Oli in the upcoming general convention. Bhandari has been actively meeting UML leaders who favor a leadership change.

Similarly, UML leader Yogesh Bhattarai has grown increasingly vocal about the need for new leadership. Several senior leaders fear the party will face major losses if it contests elections under Oli’s stewardship.

In the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), instability is also deepening. High-profile leaders Sumana Shrestha and Santosh Pariyar have already left, and reports suggest others may follow. The party’s push to secure the release of its chairman Rabi Lamichhane has been unsuccessful, and in his absence, leadership disputes have intensified. Although the GenZ movement was expected to strengthen the party, internal conflict has instead weakened it further.

On the law-and-order front, the government has arrested controversial businessman Durga Prasai on charges of disrupting public order. Prasai, now a vocal proponent of monarchy and a Hindu state, had been preparing to launch street protests. Several leaders have called for his release, citing freedom of speech. A video he released, claiming Prime Minister Karki was behind the GenZ movement, has since gone viral.

Meanwhile, Netra Bikram Chand has formally registered his political party, CPN (Maoist), at the Election Commission. Unlike Pushpa Kamal Dahal of CPN (Maoist Center),  Chand has retained his Maoist ideological line. He had previously split from Dahal in 2012 alongside Mohan Baidya.

Despite the political turbulence, the Election Commission has begun preparations for the March 5 elections. It has called on parties to register themselves in order to participate.

Internationally, Nepal maintained a low-profile presence at this year’s UN climate change conference (COP), represented only at the ministerial level and with minimal civil society participation. As usual, Nepal emphasized issues related to climate justice.

The largest party in the dissolved House of Representatives (HoR), the Nepali Congress (NC), is embroiled in an internal rift over whether to convene the party’s convention to elect a new leadership.

The party’s youth leaders are demanding that the convention be held before the next election, arguing that the NC should go to the polls with new leadership and renewed energy. However, the establishment faction, led by Vice-president Purna Bahadur Khadka, prefers to hold the convention after the election. The party has faced growing criticism for failing to take initiative to resolve the ongoing political stalemate, appearing instead preoccupied with its internal disputes. The rift has laid bare the ongoing struggle between the party’s second- and third-tier leaders for control of its future direction.

Senior figures such as Khadka, Prakash Man Singh, Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Bimalendra Nidhi are reportedly intent on preventing Gagan Kumar Thapa from ascending to the party presidency. Thapa, however, remains firm in his intention to contest. In the absence of Sher Bahadur Deuba, the NC is facing a clear leadership vacuum as intergenerational rivalries intensify. Meanwhile, senior leader Shekhar Koirala has chosen to remain silent amid the escalating discord.

In contrast, the CPN-UML appears to be making steady progress toward its general convention, scheduled for mid-December. Initially, the party planned to hold the convention in Pokhara but later shifted the venue to Kathmandu due to party Chair KP Sharma Oli’s travel restrictions. Although some voices within the UML had earlier urged Oli to step aside, those calls have largely faded. A few leaders still argue that the party should not go into the elections under Oli’s leadership, but he has made it clear that he intends to contest at the General Convention.

Some party members have proposed that former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s membership be reinstated so she could take over the UML leadership after Oli, but he has shown no inclination to welcome her back. On national politics, the UML maintains that the only viable path forward is to briefly restore Parliament to legitimize the election process. Meanwhile, tensions between Prime Minister Sushila Karki and the UML continue to grow. Oli believes he is being directly targeted by the government and fears possible arrest.

Amid this shifting political landscape, a growing number of GenZ activists have entered the scene. They are engaging with political parties, civil society and business groups, though the government and established parties find it difficult to work with them due to their lack of unified positions. Rather than coalescing around shared reform agendas such as anti-corruption or governance reform, many GenZ figures appear increasingly motivated by personal political ambitions. An unhealthy competition has emerged among them to secure ministerial positions or advance individual agendas, while some remain openly hostile toward traditional political parties.

Seeking to consolidate his base after recent turmoil, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chair of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center), has brought together 10 communist parties to form a new organization under the old banner, the Nepali Communist Party. Meanwhile, the CPN (Unified Socialist) led by Madhav Kumar Nepal is fragmenting. One faction has merged with Dahal, another is preparing to rejoin the UML, and a third, led by Ghanashyam Bhushal, plans to form a separate political force. Within the Maoist Center itself, Janardhan Sharma has resigned protesting against the unification, and is reportedly in talks with other leaders to create a new political party.

In an effort to create momentum for elections, Prime Minister Karki has held consultations with former presidents Ram Baran Yadav and Bidya Devi Bhandari. She appears to believe they could help facilitate dialogue among top political leaders. However, without direct engagement between the prime minister and major party heads, progress toward a conducive electoral environment remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, controversial businessperson Durga Prasai is preparing to launch a street movement calling for the restoration of monarchy and the Hindu state. The government is concerned that his activities could disturb public order, especially given that protests he organized in March turned violent. Authorities have invited him for dialogue, as his influence appears to be growing, particularly after Prime Minister Karki made conciliatory remarks about him and the Nepali Army invited him to consultations as a “stakeholder.”

With less than 120 days remaining before the March 5 elections, the Ministry of Home Affairs is currently drafting an integrated security plan to safeguard the electoral process. So far, the government has yet to ensure a stable political and security environment. This has fueled speculation about potential successors should Prime Minister Karki fail to conduct the elections. Names such as Baburam Bhattarai and Kalyan Shrestha have surfaced as possible candidates. 

Adding to the tension, the Supreme Court recently issued an interim order restraining the government from implementing its decision to recall 11 ambassadors. The government, however, has defied the order, insisting the ambassadors return to Nepal, citing a lack of trust. This defiance has sparked a broader debate over the balance of power between the executive and the judiciary.

Strains between the government and Parliament are also deepening. HoR Speaker Devraj Ghimire has accused the interim government of acting against the legislature and its members. In a meeting with journalists at Singhadurbar, Ghimire said the government appears intent on weakening the parliamentary system. His statement was prompted by the government’s decision to remove personal secretaries of the Deputy Speaker, Vice-chairperson of the National Assembly and 58 National Assembly members.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Karki met with chief ministers of all seven provinces. The provincial heads objected to several recent federal decisions that they claimed infringed on their constitutional powers. The meeting also touched upon election preparedness and coordination between federal and provincial governments.

Following the GenZ protests, the number of political parties in Nepal continues to rise. As of now, 18 new parties are awaiting registration with the Election Commission (EC). The most recent application is from the Nepali Communist Party, bringing the total number of registration requests to 18. Before the GenZ movement, only nine such applications had been filed, while the rest followed in its aftermath. Currently, 125 political parties have already obtained official registration certificates from the EC.

The Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress scheduled for today has been postponed. 

The next meeting will be held on November 4, said NC Party Office Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel.

The party has requested its office bearers, members, invitee members and presidents of all seven provinces to attend the meeting. 

The meeting was put off after the establishment side and factional side could not forge consensus regarding presenting a proposal to announce the date of the party's 15th general convention.  

Earlier, the meeting called for Friday was also deferred.

The Nepali Congress is holding its Central Working Committee meeting at the party's central office, BP Smriti Bhawan, Lalitpur on Thursday.

It has been said that the meeting will focus on matters related to the party's 15th General Convention, as the term of the CWC currently led by President Sher Bahadur Deuba is ending by mid-December. Some leaders had launched a signature campaign calling for a special general convention.

It has been reported that 54 percent of the general convention delegates have signed for a special general convention.

Earlier, in the CWC meeting that began on October 14, party president Sher Bahadur Deuba had given the responsibility of acting president to vice president Purna Bahadur Khadka, citing health reasons. Since then, the working committee meeting has been held under Khadka's chairmanship.

NC President Deuba and his wife Arzu Rana Deuba are currently in Singapore for medical treatment.

Nepali Congress has withdrawn its support from the Madhes Province government.

The Parliamentary Party meeting held at the Nepali Congress Madhes Province Office in Janakpurdham on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of support to the government.

Parliamentary Party leader Krishna Yadav informed that the decision was taken at the Parliamentary Party meeting to withdraw the support extended to the government effective from today and recall the ministers participating in the government.