Congress: age complaint filed against central member Bhatta as district conventions continue

A complaint has been filed with the Nepali Congress Election Committee against Sushil Bhatta, who was elected as a central member from the under-35 youth cluster, alleging that he had crossed the age limit.

The complaint claims that by the time candidacy was registered, Bhatta had already turned 35. The complaint, filed by Saugat Thapa, demands that the age of all candidates and elected members from that cluster be investigated based on official documents, including citizenship certificates. The Election Committee has not yet made any decision on the complaint.

The swearing-in of elected office-bearers and central members is scheduled for Thursday. Meanwhile, party president Gagan Kumar Thapa has said the party will run a nationwide awareness campaign to reconnect with voters who have drifted away from the party. In the Falgun election, Congress had lost nearly 950,000 votes under the proportional category compared to 2079. Carrying the message that the party has changed since the general convention down to the grassroots is also a priority of the campaign.

Separately, the faction of outgoing president Sher Bahadur Deuba has so far held conventions in 10 districts, selecting the president by consensus in each. These districts include Sankhuwasabha, Dolpa, Humla, Jumla, Doti and Baitadi. This faction is preparing to hold its 15th general convention in Kathmandu from Mangsir 21 to 23.

The group favoring a regular general convention has decided to hold district conventions nationwide from Kattik 15, though in Udayapur the convention will be held on Kattik 19 due to technical reasons. In Khotang, the convention will be held on Kattik 17.