Nepali Congress Dissident Group Holds Gathering in Biratnagar: Who Will Participate?

30 Jestha, Biratnagar – The dissident faction of the Nepali Congress is organizing a large-scale gathering in Biratnagar on Sunday to exert pressure for party unity. Bhupendra Rai, General Secretary of the Nepali Congress Koshi Province Committee, informed that this assembly will take place in the presence of senior party leaders aimed at consolidating the party.

Rai emphasized that the weakening of Congress is raising questions about national identity and sovereignty, and thus the gathering is intended to create the necessary pressure to unify the party.

Dr. Shekhar Koirala is expected to attend as the chief guest. Other prominent leaders from the party including former Deputy Speaker Vijay Kumar Gachhadar, former General Secretaries Krishna Prasad Sitaula, and Dr. Shashank Koirala will also participate. The dissident faction considers this gathering a rallying point for leaders and cadres from across the province who align neither with outgoing Chairperson Sher Bahadur Deuba, the Koirala faction, nor the Sitaula group.

The dissident group claims that broad unity within the party can only be achieved through regular general conventions and accuses the committee formed during the special general convention of failing to create an environment of assurance. Province General Secretary Rai asserts that this gathering is a program for the entire Congress party and not for any single group. “This event is organized not by any one faction or pressure group, but for the entire Congress,” he stated.

He criticizes the use of the special general convention as a platform for disrespecting senior leaders who have dedicated their blood and sweat since the party’s foundation. “Senior leaders who have sacrificed from the founding days of the party are being sidelined in a humiliating manner. Anyone dreaming of leading a small faction alone is a threat to both the Congress and the country. Therefore, we aim to pressure for full party unity,” Rai remarked.

Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Kedar Karki, shared that efforts are underway to prevent division within the party. He commented, “We had said Congress must move forward in a new way, but there was laxity in the leadership we chose, and it couldn’t bear the party’s heavy responsibility. That leadership only claims to represent 54 percent.” He also critiqued Chairperson Gagan Thapa for not being able to lead the entire Congress, saying, “We chose leadership for the entire Nepali Congress, aiming to select a chairperson for 100 percent, but since the leadership said ‘I won’t shoulder the burden,’ we responded with a campaign insisting the chairperson must represent 100 percent.”