Prachanda and Lamichhane attend Congress convention opening; Oli and Deuba absent

Top leaders from several parties are attending the opening ceremony of the 15th Nepali Congress convention, but CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli and former Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba have not arrived.

Nepal Communist Party convener Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane have reached Khulamanch. Lamichhane, chair of the ruling party, arrived at the venue while the inaugural session was still underway. Former Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, RPP chair Rajendra Lingden, Nagarik Unmukti Party patron Resham Chaudhary and JSP Nepal co-chair Sharat Singh Bhandari are also present. Instead of Labour Culture Party chair Harka Sampang, general secretary Aren Rai attended.

According to UML publicity chief Niraj Acharya, Oli sent General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel to convey his good wishes, and Pokhrel has reached the ceremony. Oli's secretariat confirmed on Sunday morning that he would not attend, but did not give a reason.

The establishment faction led by Gagan Thapa had invited Deuba as chief guest, but Deuba's camp is not participating in this convention. According to spokesperson Devraj Chalise, guest leaders including Lamichhane are scheduled to address the inaugural ceremony. JSP chair Upendra Yadav and Janamat Party chair Chandrakant Raut were also invited. Anjan Shrestha, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, is also present at the ceremony.

According to the schedule, closed-door sessions will be held on Asoj 19 and 20, and the election process on Asoj 21 and 22.