Congress Faces Internal Strife as Convention Nears

Kathmandu. As the Nepali Congress convention draws nearer, the hustle and bustle, which used to be confined to the central office in Sanepa, is now also seen at the contact office opened by the former president Sher Bahadur Deuba group in Chundevi. The party's internal conflict is escalating as the 15th convention approaches. While the establishment faction has completed its ward conventions, Sher Bahadur Deuba's faction is also preparing for parallel conventions, clearly indicating signs of division within the Congress. The terms 'faction' and 'sub-faction' are not new in Congress's history. Whether it was the long struggle after 2017 BS or the power struggle after 2046 BS, dissatisfaction within the Congress has always been present. The incident in 2059 BS when Sher Bahadur Deuba split the party to form 'Nepali Congress (Democratic)' is still fresh in the minds of old Congress members. From the ideological differences between BP Koirala and Suvarna Shamsher to the 'cold war' between Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala, the Congress has faced internal power struggles many times. The current situation appears somewhat different and more complex than those past events. This time, parallel conventions are certain to occur from the ward level onwards. The gap between the party's establishment faction and the opposing faction has turned the convention into a ground for power display. Gagan Thapa-led working committee is holding its convention from Ashoj 16 to 19, and the Sher Bahadur Deuba group, which left the party after the special convention, is holding its 15th convention from Mangsir 21 to 24. The establishment has started its ward conventions from Ashoj 3, while the Deuba group is preparing to start from the 15th. Deuba group leader Deepak Khadka said, 'Our preparations for the ward convention are in the final stage. We will hold the convention on the scheduled date.' Leaders and cadres are divided into two camps: those supporting the special convention and those supporting the regular convention. 'When the party deviates from its rules and regulations, there was no option but to practice in parallel,' said former Kathmandu Congress president Bhimsen Das Pradhan to Ratopati. 'After the Supreme Court gave a review notice in the dispute over the party's authenticity, the establishment should not have held the convention. Since they are holding the convention, we are forced to hold a parallel convention, however reluctantly.' The parallel activities on the eve of the 15th convention are making cadres worried whether the party is being pushed towards disaster. Nawalparasi West Congress leader Sandeep Parajuli said that the parallel activities have caused confusion. 'With two conventions certain, confusion has arisen. Which convention should we participate in?' Parajuli told Ratopati. 'We wish the leaders would resolve the internal dispute and unite. But they don't seem to be willing to unite.' This is not just Parajuli's sentiment; another Congress leader from Kanchanpur, Deepak Joshi, shares similar concerns. 'With discord in the party, we are in a state of confusion,' Joshi told Ratopati. 'We young people who are committed to Congress politics are worried that the conflict among leaders might darken our political future.' Joshi believes that if the party leadership does not adopt a policy of reconciliation immediately, the strong foundation of Congress will crumble. 'If we do not rise above factional interests and focus on the party's policies and ideals, Congress will have to pay a heavy political price,' said Joshi. The future of Congress now rests in the hands of Thapa, who was elected president through the special convention. Can he take the dissenting factions into confidence and unite everyone? Or will the organization suffer a loss again due to his inability to play a coordinating role? That remains uncertain. Political analyst Puranjan Acharya, who understands Congress, says that Congress is currently divided into two. He states that the current conflict within Congress is between the smart generation, the traditionalists, and the sacrificing generation. 'There is a conflict between two generations in Congress now: a smart generation and a traditionalist and sacrificing generation. With this conflict, there are now two Congresses. Two Congresses have presented themselves. Whichever one people like, they will align with,' said analyst Acharya to Ratopati. 'Congress has become two, this is certain.' Former acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka also believes that the division of Congress is certain. Khadka wrote on social media Facebook on Sunday, 'Unless a miracle happens, the party's division is certain, but we are making a final effort to prevent it.' Congress spokesperson Devraj Chalise says that efforts are being made to resolve the dispute. Chalise stated that efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue will continue until the day of the convention's inauguration, and the party leadership is undertaking this. 'Disagreements are natural in politics. The method of resolving disagreements is dialogue and cooperation. It is the duty of the leadership to follow, adhere to, and implement that method,' said spokesperson Chalise to Ratopati. 'Discussions and conversations with leaders are ongoing. After the regional convention on Ashoj 10, convention representatives will be selected. Along with that, options will be explored on how to secure the future of leaders who do not participate in the convention.' However, former joint general secretary Badri Pandey believes that consensus could not be reached due to the erosion of political norms and culture compared to the past. 'Not going for unity, the top two leaders not meeting to facilitate unity, perhaps we need to reflect on whether there has been an erosion in terms of norms, political culture compared to the past,' Pandey told Ratopati. Previous Congress Disputes Congress's 2014 Special Convention In the sixth convention held in Birgunj in 2012 BS, Suvarna Shamsher was elected president, defeating his rival Ganesh Man Singh. BP Koirala supported Suvarna Shamsher, while Girija Prasad Koirala appeared to support Singh. The Congress also established its theoretical stance, including its socialist economic policy, at that convention. Subsequently, in 2014 BS, Congress launched a civil disobedience movement, protesting the then King Mahendra's alleged deceit in not holding elections. Congress was agitating for elections to be held. Not only elections but Congress was also agitating for the demand for a constituent assembly election. On one hand, Congress had to participate in the elections. Suvarna had a good relationship with King Mahendra, while BP did not have a good relationship with the King. To resolve this situation, an internal agreement was reached between BP and Suvarna to hold a special convention, where Suvarna would step down as president, and BP would become president. Accordingly, Suvarna, in his capacity as president, called a special convention on Ashoj 10 and 11, 2014 BS. BP became president from the convention, while Suvarna remained outside. Shortly thereafter, King Mahendra appointed Suvarna Shamsher as Chairman of the Council of Ministers on Jestha 2, 2015 BS. Suvarna Shamsher was also given the responsibility of Chief Election Commissioner. Subsequently, King Mahendra announced parliamentary elections in Ashoj 2015 BS. In 2015 BS, on Falgun 1, he also promulgated a democratic constitution. Suvarna Shamsher completed the elections, which lasted 45 days from Falgun 7 to Chaitra 21, 2015 BS. At that time, the president and the entire central committee were unanimously elected through the special convention. No one opposed it. There was no opposition or division in the party for the special convention. After the special convention called by the Congress Central Committee, BP's leadership united the party and moved forward, enabling Congress to win 74 out of 108 seats in the 2015 elections, securing a two-thirds majority. At that time, the special convention had succeeded in making the party popular among the public. However, the special convention held in the last week of Poush could not win the trust of the people. It also failed to maintain unity within the party. The Thirty-Eight Brothers Incident The second dispute in Congress occurred in 2038 BS. At that time, some prominent leaders of Congress, advocating for the use of the Panchayat elections, entered the Panchayat system and participated in the elections. Among those who entered the Panchayat were two individuals who had served as general secretaries during BP's time: Parashu Narayan Chaudhary and Shribhadra Sharma. Despite being former general secretaries, they participated in the Panchayat elections. Documents related to Congress also mention leaders like Bakhan Singh Gurung and Arjunnarsingh K.C. entering the Panchayat. K.C. is currently a member of the House of Representatives. Chaudhary was known as someone BP had proposed as a future prime minister. Those Congress leaders who entered the Panchayat in 2038 BS were known as the 'Thirty-Eight Brothers'. Kisunji's Moment of Saving the Party from Mid-term Elections and Split After the success of the people's movement led by Congress in 2046 BS, parliamentary elections were held on Baishakh 29, 2048 BS. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai (Kisunji), who was also the incumbent Prime Minister of the interim government, was defeated in the election. Internal sabotage within Congress was also cited as a major reason for Bhattarai's defeat. This also increased some bitterness within the party. After the eighth convention held in Kalabalgudi, Jhapa, from Falgun 1 to 3, 2048 BS, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was elected president of the Congress. As internal disputes escalated, on Poush 15, 2050 BS, then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala removed Taranath Ranabhat, Basudev Risal, Bal Bahadur Rai, Sheikh Idris, Dhundiraj Shastri, Chiranjivi Wagle, and Gopalman Shrestha from the Council of Ministers. This further intensified the dispute. In 2051 BS, the monsoon session of parliament began. The government presented its policy and program. The date for passing the motion of thanks from parliament was set for Ashadh 26. The motion of thanks was a matter of approving the government's policy and program by the parliament. Out of Congress's 111 MPs, 36 were absent, leading to the failure to pass the motion of thanks. Considering the government to have failed after the motion of thanks failed, Prime Minister Koirala went to the Narayanhiti Royal Palace on the same day and recommended mid-term elections for Kartik 27 of the same year, stating, 'The parliament is making it difficult for me to work, I want to go for fresh mandate.' Subsequently, King Birendra, citing the recommendation of the majority government, dissolved the House of Representatives and announced new elections for Kartik 29. Although Koirala proposed Kartik 27, the date was postponed by two days to Kartik 29 due to the occurrence of Thulo Ekadashi, and mid-term elections were held. In the mid-term elections, UML became the largest party by winning 88 seats. Congress remained the main opposition by winning 83 seats. Koirala made Sher Bahadur Deuba the parliamentary party leader instead of becoming the leader himself. When Koirala dissolved parliament, Kisunji was the president of Congress. Angered by the lack of support from 36 party members, Koirala convened a special meeting of leaders from his faction at the Pragya Pratishthan on Ashadh 12, 2051 BS. It was rumored that Koirala was preparing to form a new organization of Congress, which led to a major dispute within the party. Party president Krishna Prasad Bhattarai arrived at the meeting. Upon his arrival, leaders and cadres from the Koirala faction heckled him. After Koirala urged everyone to calm down, President Bhattarai gave a speech saying, 'You are all my cadres, I am your leader. There is no need for this. I myself will propose Girija Babu as the next party president in our regular ninth convention, and I will propose him.' Then Koirala said, 'Okay, our talks are settled,' and they shook hands and left. The meeting, which was prepared for party division, was foiled by Krishna Prasad himself. In accordance with his commitment, Bhattarai proposed Girija Prasad Koirala as the presidential candidate for the ninth convention on Baishakh 27, 2053 BS, at the Birendra International Convention Center, New Baneshwor. Koirala was elected party president on Baishakh 29, defeating his rival Chiranjivi Wagle by a large margin. Just as the understanding between Bhattarai and Girija Prasad saved the Congress from near division at that time, such an understanding is not visible in Congress now. Neither Gagan Thapa nor Bishwaprakash Sharma could attend the inauguration ceremony of the special convention held at Bhrikutimandap on Poush 27 last year, nor could then-president Sher Bahadur Deuba or acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka attend. Similarly, Gagan Thapa, in his capacity as president, could not attend the inauguration of the special gathering held by the Deuba faction in Sukedhara on Shrawan 29. Congress's Division In 2059 BS, Girija Prasad Koirala was the president of Congress, and Sushil Koirala was the general secretary. Sher Bahadur Deuba was the Prime Minister at that time. The Maoist insurgency was escalating daily. As the violence intensified, the cabinet led by Deuba decided to extend the state of emergency by another six months on Jestha 2, 2059 BS. General secretary Sushil Koirala asked Prime Minister Deuba for a written explanation, citing that the party was not consulted before declaring the state of emergency. Six days later, on Jestha 8, Congress expelled Prime Minister Deuba from even basic membership. After being expelled from basic membership, Deuba became enraged. He implemented the state of emergency. Gyanendra was the king at that time. Deuba went to then-King Gyanendra, dissolved parliament, and announced mid-term elections for Kartik. Amidst efforts by leaders from Deuba's faction to get his expulsion from the party revoked, which failed, Deuba-faction leaders held a gathering of convention representatives at the International Convention Center in New Baneshwor on Ashadh 4 of the same year. That gathering expelled President Koirala and declared Deuba as president. However, a case was later filed in court. The court recognized Koirala as the legitimate leader, and Deuba's party was named Nepali Congress (Democratic). As the date for the mid-term elections announced by Deuba approached, Maoist attacks intensified from Ashoj. The Maoists intensified attacks targeting the army and police. Subsequently, in the first week of Ashoj, Prime Minister Deuba met the king and proposed postponing the mid-term elections due to the extreme increase in murder and violence in the country. However, King Gyanendra, calling Sher Bahadur an incompetent prime minister, dissolved the government on Ashoj 18, 2059 BS. Subsequently, Gyanendra himself led the government for a week. On Ashoj 25, he appointed Lokendra Bahadur Chand as prime minister. Koirala-led Congress and Deuba-led Congress (Democratic) continued their respective political activities. In 2062 BS, both Congress factions held their conventions. Girija held the 11th convention of Congress from Bhadra 14 to 17, 2062 BS, in Lalitpur. Deuba-led Congress Democratic also held its convention in 2062 BS. Deuba himself became its president. In the 2062/063 People's Movement, both parties progressed in their own ways. At that time, the mainstream Congress had not adopted an inclusive policy. Congress Democratic advanced with an inclusive policy called 'Kadum-Jam' (Karnali, Dalit, Women, Indigenous, Madhesi). On Ashoj 8, 2064 BS, during Indra Jatra, both Congress factions merged. While Deuba played a significant role in splitting and uniting the party at that time, he now appears to be leading the party towards division once again. Whether this journey towards division will eventually turn towards unity or if Congress will split into two parties remains in the womb of the future.