Ranjit Karna, a member of the National Assembly, the upper house of parliament, has announced his candidacy for the Nepali Congress General Secretary post, highlighting the need for Madhesh representation in the party’s influential leadership. This announcement comes as the Nepali Congress’s 15th General Convention is currently underway in Kathmandu.
Karna, a former central president of the Nepal Student Union, stated his intention to run for one of the two General Secretary positions. He claims his candidacy is aimed at ensuring Madhesh, a significant electoral base for the Nepali Congress, secures a voice in the party’s policy-making and organizational operations.
Leaders from Madhesh note that no leader from Madhesh has held the powerful General Secretary position since Bimelendra Nidhi at the party’s 12th General Convention. This has led to complaints from Madhesh leaders who feel the party “takes votes but doesn’t give leadership” in key posts.
15th General Convention Underway
The Nepali Congress’s 15th General Convention commenced on October 4, 2026, at Khulamanch in Kathmandu, and is scheduled to conclude on October 8. The convention has drawn over 7,500 delegates from across the country and abroad, marking it as the largest in the party’s history.
The convention aims to elect a new 232-member Central Working Committee. Through a recent amendment to the party’s statute, provisions have been made to ensure representation for youth under 35, one-third women, and experts from various professional fields.
The race for the two General Secretary posts is competitive, with more than a dozen aspirants in the fray. Besides Ranjit Karna, Dr. Sunil Sharma and Shankar Tiwari have also announced their candidacies. The fee for filing a nomination for the General Secretary position has been set at Rs 30,000.
Election Schedule and Next Steps
The closed session of the 15th General Convention is taking place on Monday and Tuesday, October 5 and 6, at Khulamanch. The registration of nomination papers for the Central Working Committee elections is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, from 10 AM to 3 PM at Rastriya Sabha Griha.
The final list of candidates will be published on Tuesday, October 6, at 4:30 PM. Candidates will have until 9 AM on Wednesday, October 7, to withdraw their nominations or request corrections. The definitive list of candidates will then be published at 10 AM on Wednesday, October 7, allowing candidates the rest of the day for campaigning.
Voting is slated for Thursday, October 8, from 7 AM to 5 PM. Three polling stations have been designated for the election: Rastriya Sabha Griha, Khulamanch, and Pragya Bhawan. The Election Committee has stated that vote counting will commence immediately after the conclusion of polling.
Karna’s candidacy is viewed as particularly significant, as there is growing internal pressure on the party’s establishment to ensure Madhesh representation in the General Secretary role, especially if the party president is from the Hilly region. The outcome of the General Convention could determine the political standing of Madhesh within the Nepali Congress and could influence the party’s future strategy in the region.
While several aspirants have declared their interest in the General Secretary posts, detailed information on all candidates beyond Karna, Dr. Sunil Sharma, and Shankar Tiwari is not yet available. The exact date for the announcement of the election results also remains unconfirmed. Furthermore, reports suggest that former Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s faction might be preparing for a separate convention, but further details on this development are currently unclear.
