Kathmandu, August 19
The dissident faction of the Nepali Congress is preparing to move the Supreme Court seeking an immediate halt to the process for the party’s 15th General Convention.
The faction decided to approach the court after the party revised and published the general convention schedule while a dispute over the party’s legitimacy remains sub judice.
Min Bishwakarma, coordinator of the faction’s publicity and promotion committee, said they were preparing to seek a court order to suspend the convention process for the time being.
“It is not appropriate for one side to unilaterally move forward on a matter that is already under consideration by the court,” Bishwakarma told Onlinekhabar. “But the process has been moved forward. Our side will file a petition in court.”
According to Bishwakarma, the faction’s Law and Statute Committee, led by party leader Ramesh Lekhak, will take the matter to the Supreme Court.
“It is the responsibility of the Law and Statute Committee. They will carry out that task,” he said.
The faction has not yet fixed a date for filing the petition.
“The new schedule was announced only yesterday,” Bishwakarma said. “The Law and Statute Committee will probably approach the court within a day or two.”
Faction had earlier urged party to halt convention preparations
Earlier, Dr Shashank Koirala, coordinator of the main organising committee of the faction’s national gathering, had written to the Election Commission and the Nepali Congress on August 11, urging them not to proceed with activities related to the general convention.
The letter called for an immediate suspension of all organisational, technical and policy-related schedules concerning the party’s 15th General Convention or a special general convention.
It also urged the party to keep all long-term policy, political, organisational and financial decisions on hold until the Supreme Court delivers its final verdict on the dispute.
The faction further asked the party to maintain all organisational structures in their existing form until the final decision of the Supreme Court and to fully respect the court’s authority and legal process.
Koirala’s letter warned that the concerned parties would be responsible for any contempt of court or legal complications arising from proceeding with the convention process.
Supreme Court allows review of Nepali Congress legitimacy dispute
The Supreme Court on August 6 granted permission to review the case concerning the Nepali Congress’ legitimacy dispute.
Following the review permission, the dispute surrounding the party’s special general convention will now be heard afresh from the beginning.
The dissident faction argues that the party should not proceed with its convention process while the dispute remains pending before the Supreme Court.
