Kathmandu, Jan 13: Tripartite talks aimed at resolving the escalating internal dispute within the Nepali Congress began in Lazimpat early this morning.
The negotiations include representatives from three factions of the party – Sher Bahadur Deuba, Dr Shekhar Koirala and Gagan Thapa-Bishwoprakash Sharma.
Representing the faction led by Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba are leaders Ramesh Lekhak and Balkrishna Khand. From the faction led by senior leader Dr Shekhar Koirala, leaders Jeevan Pariyar and Dr Minendra Rijal are participating while representing the faction led by General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma are Pradeep Paudel and Madhu Acharya, Guru Raj Ghimire and Devaraj Chalise.
The talks commenced while the closed session of the Special General Convention is still underway. Although the establishment faction has called a Central Committee meeting for today, the faction led by Gagan Thapa has already announced that it will not participate in the meeting.
The Thapa–Sharma faction had sent a message late last night expressing readiness to move the dialogue process forward and signaling maximum flexibility in resolving the dispute. However, the group has maintained a firm condition that it will not accept the signature of Party President Deuba in any circumstances during the selection and distribution of tickets for the upcoming House of Representatives election.
Although the party’s Central Working Committee had earlier endorsed, by majority decision, a schedule to hold the party’s 15th General Convention, the decision was opposed by General Secretaries Thapa and Sharma. Under their leadership, a Special General Convention has been ongoing at Bhrikutimandap since Poush 27. #nepal #congress
