Congress Deuba faction to hold general convention on Mangsir 21-23, criticizes government's functioning

The Deuba faction of Nepali Congress has announced that it will hold its 15th general convention in Kathmandu from Mangsir 21 to 23.

Faction leader Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat told a press conference at the contact office in Chundevi on Tuesday that preparations for the convention are proceeding rapidly. According to Dr Mahat, new leadership has already been selected in 26 districts, while conventions have been inaugurated in four districts. He said regional conventions have been completed in 618 local units, 228 provincial assembly constituencies and 114 House of Representatives constituencies. He said the convention is being held strictly according to the party's rules and statute.

Mahat said the convention is determined to protect Congress's core values, ideology and the party's operating system. He alleged that the Gagan faction, which claims authenticity, is not in the right place either ideologically or legally, and remarked that the faction no longer retains the soul of Congress.

At the press conference, Dr Mahat accused the government led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party of failing to work according to public expectations. He said rules and procedures are not being followed in running the administration and constitutional bodies, and accused the government of failing to fulfil the commitments it made during the election.

Saying that baseless crackdowns on journalists and media outlets go against democratic values, he urged the government to ensure press freedom.