KATHMANDU: The Sher Bahadur Deuba-led faction of the Nepali Congress has proposed holding the party’s 15th General Convention from December 7 to 9, intensifying preparations for the major organisational event.

A meeting of the faction’s 15th General Convention Preparation Committee on Wednesday proposed a detailed schedule covering conventions from the ward level to the central level.

The committee has proposed forming four key bodies by Bhadra 18 to oversee the convention process: the Central Election Committee, Active Membership Review and Management Committee, Statute Amendment Committee and Discipline Committee.

It has also proposed forming ad hoc committees for the Nepal Women Association, Nepal Student Union, Nepal Tarun Dal, Nepal Dalit Association and Nepal Indigenous Nationalities Federation.

Under the proposed plan, central representatives will be appointed to facilitate the formation of district convention preparation committees across all 77 districts. The representatives are expected to reach their respective districts by September 5, with district-level preparation committees to be formed by September 10.

Preparation committees for federal and provincial assembly constituencies are proposed to be formed by September 13, while committees at the local level and wards are scheduled to be formed by September 19.

Active membership to be finalised by September 25

The committee has identified active membership as one of the key issues in preparations for the 15th General Convention and proposed finalising the details of new active members by September 25.

According to the proposal, all active members who participated in the 14th General Convention will be eligible to participate in the upcoming convention. Those who had decided during the 14th convention to participate in the 15th convention would also be allowed to take part.

Similarly, members who renewed their active membership by December 25, 2025, as well as those who submitted applications for new active membership by that date, would be eligible.

The proposal states that the decision of the Active Membership Review and Management Committee would be final in cases involving disputes over active membership.

Convention schedule proposed

The proposed schedule sets October 1 for ward-level conventions, October 6 for local-level conventions and October 9 for provincial and federal constituency conventions.

District conventions have been proposed for November 1, followed by provincial conventions on November 20. The central General Convention would then be held from December 7 to 9.

The Central Election Committee will deploy election and polling officers across all seven provinces and 77 districts, as well as federal and provincial constituencies, local levels and wards, to oversee the convention process.

Candidate selection process to begin

The meeting also proposed initiating the process of identifying and selecting potential candidates for provincial assembly and various local-level positions.

Concerned committees will collect names of individuals interested in contesting positions including rural municipality chairpersons and vice-chairpersons, mayors and deputy mayors, ward chairs and ward members. The committees will then begin the process of selecting suitable candidates.

Deuba faction calls for support for Rasuwa flood victims

The meeting expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property caused by the devastating Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa on August 26.

It noted that hundreds of people had died, thousands remained missing, hundreds had been injured and thousands of families had been displaced by the disaster.

The committee urged the government to intensify search and rescue operations and ensure relief, safe housing, appropriate compensation and rehabilitation for affected families.

It also appealed to political parties, sister organisations, well-wishers, the private sector, industrialists, businesspeople, financial institutions, friendly countries, the international community and donor agencies to extend necessary support to those affected by the disaster.

The faction further called on Nepali Congress leaders and cadres at all levels to continue humanitarian activities in flood-affected areas.

The meeting also proposed organising the 113th BP Memorial Day and holding discussions on contemporary political issues and other organisational matters.