Update (20:18 NST, October 3, 2026)
Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa sent an official invitation to former President Sher Bahadur Deuba to participate in the 15th General Convention, which begins Sunday. Joint General Secretary Yogendra Chaudhary delivered the letter to Deuba’s residence in Chundevi but did not meet him, according to Chaudhary.
The party’s slogan for the convention is “New Congress, New Resolve,” replacing the previously announced “Respecting tradition and resolving for change: A strong Congress as an alternative for a prosperous Nepal,” Nepali Congress spokesperson Devraj Chalise said.
More than 7,000 delegates and over 50,000 youths are expected to participate in the convention, according to the party’s Information, Communication, and Technology Committee. The committee also stated that youths under 35, democracy fighters, laborers, professional groups, and Nepalis residing abroad have been given opportunities for representation in the Central Committee.
Candidates are prohibited from using caps, vests, jackets, masks, or other promotional materials bearing their name or election symbol. The party has also banned making noise in public places, misusing vehicles, and involving children in election-related activities during the convention.
Technical and managerial preparations for the convention are in their final stages, the Information, Communication, and Technology Committee announced on Friday, October 2, 2026. The inaugural ceremony is confirmed to begin at 2 PM on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Khulamanch in Tundikhel, Kathmandu.
Update (19:18 NST, October 3, 2026)
The Nepali Congress 15th General Convention is set to begin on Sunday, Ashoj 18 (BS), at Khulamanch in Kathmandu, under the slogan “Respecting tradition and resolving for change: A strong Congress as an alternative for a prosperous Nepal,” Nepali Congress spokesperson Devraj Chalise said. More than 7,500 delegates are expected to participate, making it the largest in the party’s history, Chalise added. Delegate registration took place on Friday and Saturday, Ashoj 16 and 17 (BS), with a fee of Rs 3,500 per delegate. Each delegate received a kit containing the party statute, a diary, a pen, food and snack coupons, and a delegate card.
Spokesperson Chalise stated that the party aims to transform this convention into a “policy selection convention” rather than primarily a “leader selection convention.” He also confirmed that regional conventions in fewer than 10 constituencies are still pending but are expected to conclude by Saturday night. The Nepali Congress has invited ruling and opposition parties, including the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and CPN-UML, as well as international guests from countries like India, China, and the United States. However, the party noted that foreign guest attendance might be low due to changes in the convention dates. Socialist International Secretary General Chantal Kambiwa arrived on Wednesday, Ashoj 14 (BS), to attend the event.
For delegates, hotels have been booked across Kathmandu in areas such as Gausala, Koteshwor, Lazimpat, Thamel, Naya Buspark, Sundhara, Balaju, and Kalanki, accommodating up to 10,000 delegates and well-wishers. While the party will provide breakfast and lunch at Bhrikutimandap during the convention, delegates from districts, public relations committees, and sister organizations are responsible for their own accommodation costs. The party will cover accommodation for foreign guests. A health desk staffed by 30 health workers across five stalls has been set up at Khulamanch to provide general check-ups and emergency services. A delegation led by Mahasamiti member Prashant Gurung is arriving from Hong Kong to participate, with delegates expressing excitement and a desire for unity among party factions.
The Nepali Congress Central Election Committee has reiterated that individuals vying for central positions in the party’s upcoming 15th General Convention cannot simultaneously contest elections for provincial or district committees.
Raju Katuwal, member secretary of the Nepali Congress Central Election Committee, issued a notice reminding potential candidates of the rule. The party’s statute explicitly states that a person who has competed in an election at one level cannot be a candidate for any committee position at a higher or lower level during the same period. This means any candidate for a central post in the 15th General Convention will be ineligible to run in subsequent provincial or district committee elections. The committee also reminded that ex-officio General Convention representatives, including those from sister organisations and well-wishing institutions, are not permitted to run for any central committee position.
15th General Convention Schedule and Participation
The 15th General Convention of the Nepali Congress is scheduled to take place from Ashoj 18 to 22 (BS) at Khulamanch, an open ground in Kathmandu. The inaugural ceremony will commence at 2 PM on Ashoj 18. The Central Election Committee has set the nomination registration for candidates at the Rastriya Sabha Griha, the National Assembly Hall, from 2 PM to 6 PM on Ashoj 19, which is a Monday. The actual election program is slated for Ashoj 21 and 22.
Approximately 7,500 delegates are expected to participate, with 7,028 already confirmed. The previous 14th General Convention, held in Mangsir 2078 (BS), saw 4,743 delegates. The convention’s opening date was postponed by two days from Ashoj 16 to Ashoj 18 due to heavy rainfall affecting regional conventions and delegate selection in various parts of the country.
Factional Dispute and Parallel Convention
The Nepali Congress is currently grappling with a legitimacy dispute, which is pending before the Supreme Court, Nepal’s apex court. While the establishment faction initiated the General Convention process on Ashoj 3 (BS), former Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s faction had argued against holding the convention until the court dispute was resolved. Deuba’s faction has submitted a separate schedule to the Election Commission, proposing to start ward conventions from Ashoj 15 (BS) and hold their central General Convention from Mangsir 21-23 (BS).
Next Steps and Committee Structure
Delegate registration for the ongoing convention is scheduled for Ashoj 16 and 17 (BS). The closed session and other programs will run on Ashoj 19 and 20 (BS). A committee led by General Secretary Pradip Paudel is working on statute amendments, with proposals for changes to be presented during the closed session. The 14th General Convention elected 13 office-bearers, including one president, two vice-presidents, two general secretaries, and eight joint general secretaries, excluding the treasurer. The 15th General Convention will elect a 231-member Central Working Committee. The decision on whether to increase the number of office-bearers or maintain the current structure will be finalised during the closed session. Nomination fees have been set at Rs 40,000 for the central president, Rs 30,000 for vice-presidents and general secretaries, Rs 20,000 for joint general secretaries, and Rs 11,000 for central members.
Unresolved Issues
The ultimate outcome of the Nepali Congress’s legitimacy dispute, currently before the Supreme Court, remains unclear. Similarly, how the conflict between the two factions will be resolved, especially with Deuba’s faction pursuing a parallel convention process, is uncertain. The final decision on the number of office-bearers for the new central committee is yet to be made, and it is not clear if this will be settled by consensus or through an election. Furthermore, the completion timeline for regional conventions and delegate selection processes that were affected by heavy rainfall in some constituencies is still pending.
