Nepali Congress's regional-level conventions are underway across most of the country as of Asoj 10, as a part of the party's 15th General Convention process, even as a faction licked to former party president Sher Bahadur has launced a new online membership portal and is drafting its own proposed changes to the party's internal rules ahead of the convention's final stage.
While party president Gagan Thapa is widely expected to be reelected, something else might matter just as much as a seperate group tied to Deuba is quietly building its own strength by not fighting loudly but instead setting up tools and writing new rules that could shape the party in the coming days regardless of who gets elected as the president.
Details on the process of convention:The convention happens in stages. At first ward-level voting happened on Ashoj 3-4. After that comes the municipal level voting, that happened onAsoj 7. When all of the above are dealed with, regional level conventions that covers provincial assembly and House of Representatives constitutiencies happens. The regional level convention was originally planned for Asoj 10. It has been postponed due to heavy nationwide rainfall and it shall happen at Asoj 13, according to the party. After that is the central, decisive General Convention remains scheduled for Asoj16-19 as of now.
Seperately, the Deuba- aligned faction publicized an online portal this past Saturday meant to formalize and track "active membership" among its supporters. This seems to be a practical organizing tool ahead of the final vote. The same faction is also preparing its own proposed amendments to the party's constituition aimed specifically at making it easier for youth,intellectuals and industraliasts to enter and rise within the party structure rather than relying solely on the party's traditional, longer serving base.
According to Congress joint general secretary Udaya Shumsher Rana,it is certain for Thapa to be reelected as the president. Thapa has also held individiual meetings with rivals Purna Bahadur Khadka and Dr. Shekhar Koirala in an apparent bid to build unity before the final convention and has said he fully accepted a five-point proposal from Koirala aimed at ensuring the convention proceeds in orderly and unified way as per the system.
However, even with these efforts, Koirala's support inside the party seems to be shrinking. Several leaders who used to be close to him like former VP Dhanraj Gurung have instead joined Thapa's side of the convention process. Meanwhile, the Deuba's faction new portal and rule writing effort shows they're rather building their own seperate path than picking sides.
Before the opening ceremony on Asoj 16 at Khula Manch in Kathmandu, Congress has invited leaders from political parties to attend including KP Sharma Oli (CPN-UML), Pushpa Kamal Dahal (CPN- Maoist centre), and RSP's Rabi Lamichhane. This is also a customary courtesy in Nepali politics fro a party's major event and is also a signal of how significant this convention is on the bigger picture.
Thapa's current leadership itself traces back to a special general convention held around mid-January 2026, after which Nepal's Election Commission granted formal legal recognition to his leadership.
All of this put together gives the bigger picture of how there isn't just one fight inside the party itself. There are three groups to watch. Thapa's group, which seems is rather likely to win. Koirala's group, which seems to be rather loosing support . And Deuba's group which seems to be quietly building tools for shaping the party's future no matter who wins.
Updates will be followed on after the convention of who finally gets elected as the president of the group.
