Himal Hub / Kathmandu. The Nepali Congress’s 15th General Convention has entered a decisive phase, with the completion of the nomination process bringing the contest for the party’s new leadership into sharper focus. The election will determine who leads the party, with delegates set to play a decisive role in selecting the new Central Working Committee.
According to the final voter list published by the party’s Central Election Committee, a total of 7,255 delegates and voters are eligible to participate in the election.
Following the nomination process, the Election Committee published the preliminary list of candidates. Three candidates have registered for the post of party president, while Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Pushpa Bhusal have been elected unopposed as senior vice-president and woman vice-president, respectively, according to preliminary election reports.
Three Candidates in the Race for President
The contest for the party’s top position will feature Gagan Kumar Thapa, Kishor Singh Rathaur and Shyam Krishna Khadgi.
Thapa is seeking to continue his leadership, while Rathaur and Khadgi have emerged as challengers. With nominations complete, all three camps are intensifying consultations and outreach efforts to secure support from convention delegates.
The outcome will depend on the candidates’ individual influence, group support, regional alliances and relationships with delegates. The presidential contest has become the central focus of the convention as the party prepares to elect its new leadership.
Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Pushpa Bhusal Elected Unopposed
The convention has introduced changes to the party’s organizational structure, including the creation of a new senior vice-president position.
Bishwa Prakash Sharma has been elected unopposed as senior vice-president, following the registration of his sole candidacy for the post. Similarly, Pushpa Bhusal has been elected unopposed as woman vice-president, after no other candidate filed for the position.
Under the revised party statute, the Congress will have one senior vice-president and four vice-presidents, including one woman vice-president.
The open-category and other vice-president positions, however, have attracted multiple candidates, setting the stage for competitive contests.
Eight Candidates Compete for General Secretary
The race for general secretary has also intensified. According to the preliminary candidate list, eight candidates are contesting for two open-category general secretary positions, while three candidates are competing for the single position reserved for a woman.
Among the leaders in the general secretary race are Pradeep Paudel, Gururaj Ghimire, Nain Singh Mahar, Dr. Sunil Kumar Sharma, Dr. Santosh Upadhyaya and Uday Shumsher Rana.
Several leaders are also competing for joint general secretary positions across different inclusion categories. The central committee elections have attracted a substantial number of candidates, indicating strong competition beyond the top leadership positions.
Central Committee Expanded from 167 to 297 Members
The 15th General Convention has brought significant changes to the Congress’s organizational structure. Under the amended party statute, the size of the Central Working Committee has been increased from 167 to 297 members.
The number and structure of office-bearers have also been revised, with changes to the positions of senior vice-president, vice-president, general secretary and joint general secretary. The party has also introduced the post of spokesperson.
According to the preliminary election details, 32 candidates have filed nominations for the 19 office-bearer positions to be filled through election. The remaining positions will be filled through nomination, as provided for under the party’s organizational arrangements.
Voting Scheduled for Thursday
Attention has now shifted to the voting process. Following the completion of nomination withdrawals and publication of the final candidate list, candidates are expected to intensify their efforts to secure delegates’ votes.
According to the election schedule, voting is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The designated polling locations include the National Assembly Hall, Khula Manch and Nepal Academy premises.
The Election Committee is preparing to begin vote counting after polling concludes.
With the nomination process complete, the Nepali Congress’s 15th General Convention has moved from internal discussions to the decisive stage of leadership selection. The three-way presidential contest and competition for other office-bearer and central committee positions are expected to play a significant role in shaping the party’s future leadership and political direction.
