Closed session passes four reports, Thapa says party has no factions left

The closed session of the Nepali Congress's 15th general convention has unanimously passed the political proposal on "national rejuvenation and prosperity" presented by party president Gagan Thapa.

The session also passed a contemporary proposal on the decline of political culture presented by vice-president Bishwaprakash Sharma, an organizational report by general secretary Gururaj Ghimire, and a financial report by treasurer Umesh Shrestha.

The closed session, called for 10:30am on Wednesday, began only at 4pm due to bad weather.

Speaking at the closing, president Thapa declared that all factions within the party — including the Deuba, Koirala, Paudel, Bishesh and Niyamit groups — ended as of that day. He urged delegates to vote based on their conscience without coming under the influence of any group.

He said he had seen chits distributed on the road to the convention venue bearing the words "Gagan Thapa group."

Thapa recalled the contribution of outgoing president Sher Bahadur Deuba and said it felt uncomfortable that senior leaders were not present on the stage. He said the president's rights and standing in the party should be equal to that of a grassroots worker. He has pledged to work day and night right after the convention until the local-level elections.

Parliamentary party leader Bhishmaraj Angdembe said this convention was different because, this time, there was discussion on policy and future direction.

According to the party statute, 19 of the 24 office-bearers will come through election and five through nomination by the president.