Kathmandu : The Nepali Congress (NC), the oldest democratic party in the country, is all set to hold its 15th general convention at a historic venue, Khulamanch, in Kathmandu.
Khulamanch (open theatre) has long been associated with Nepal’s democratic movement. It was where party founder and Nepal’s first democratically elected Prime Minister BP Koirala too had delivered his first public address after returning home from exile.
The convention is going to be inaugurated at 2:00pm tomorrow, Sunday. The Khulamanch is also the same venue which witnessed another historic event when NC leader and another party founder Ganeshman Singh declared the success of the 1990 People’s Movement which brought an end to the party-less Panchayat system. Party president Gagan Kumar Thapa will inaugurate the convention while senior party leaders and leaders of other major political parties are also scheduled to address the inaugural session.
In a press conference held on Saturday to brief the media on convention preparations, NC spokesperson Devraj Chalise expressed his confidence that the convention would be historic as, he said, more than 44,000 youths had assumed responsibilities through the convention process. Chalise shared that more than 7,000 representatives elected by them will participate in the national event. The general convention is being held following the party’s second special general convention held from January 12-17 early this year.
It is for the first time that the event is going to get representation of youths below 35 years in the NC’s Central Working Committee. Also, the central working committee will see representation from democracy fighters, workers and professional groups as well as Nepalis living abroad. The main slogan for the gathering is ‘Energetic Congress, New Resolution’.
Spokesperson Chalise shared that extensive discussions will be held during the sessions on the new resolve as well as predation of a roadmap for its implementation. He mentioned, “The convention will elect leadership capable of implementing these commitments. Its overall effort will focus on establishing rules and systems within the Nepali Congress.”
Stating that the NC has created a history multiple times in Nepali politics, he said that it is going to make yet another history. “The BP ideology will be established as a foundation for nation’s prosperity,” he said. According to the party office, general convention representatives from various parts of the country and outside home continue to arrive in Kathmandu to attend the event. There are around 7,500 representatives for the national event.
The registration of general convention representatives has begun at the party central office, Sanepa on Saturday. According to the general convention election committee, the registration fee is Rs 3,500 per representative. The information about residential arrangements has been circulated through WhatsApp messages, AI number and SMS. An inaugural session is scheduled to be held tomorrow, Sunday and a closed session on Monday, October 5.
The party president, vice-president, general secretary and treasurer will present separate reports in the national gathering. Three separate panels will be formed on the basis of geographical cluster to discuss such reports. Each participant in the hall will have access to report via a digital board, according to spokesperson Chalise.
The time for the nomination of candidacy has been scheduled from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm on October 4 and it will be held in the National City Hall. The schedule could be revised on the need basis.
The parking lots for private vehicles: cars and motorcycles have been arranged at Bhrikutimandap, National City Hall and the Old Bus Park area. For large vehicles, parking facility has been managed on one lane roadway along the Maitighar-Bhadrakali area. Media briefing of the 15th general convention has been managed at the media centre set up at the programme venue, Khulamanch (open theatre), he said.
