Nepali Congress's new central working committee to hold first meeting on Friday

The newly elected central working committee of the Nepali Congress will hold its first meeting on Friday, October 30, Baahrakhari reported. The meeting follows the swearing-in of the party's new office bearers and central members, set for Thursday, October 29, at the party's central office in Sanepa.

After the convention

The party's 15th general convention ran from October 4 to October 9. Gagan Kumar Thapa, elected party president there, has already taken his oath of office from Prem Bahadur Khadka, who chairs the party's central election committee. Thapa will in turn swear in the remaining office bearers and members, the committee's member-secretary, Raju Katuwal, told Baahrakhari.

What the meeting will discuss

Baahrakhari reported that the first meeting will put hearing the views of the newly elected office bearers and members first, a large number of whom are young, and will set the party's future direction. Each member may be given a short, fixed time to speak; anyone who does not get a turn will be heard at the next meeting, after the Chhath festival.

The party plans to hold its district and provincial conventions in Mangsir (from November 17), after the Tihar and Chhath festivals, but has not announced the dates. The first meeting may discuss them, though whether they will be fixed then or at the meeting after Chhath has not been settled, according to Baahrakhari.

Local elections ahead

The five-year term of elected local representatives ends on Baisakh 30 (May 13, 2027), Baahrakhari noted. The government has not yet announced a date for the local elections, while the Election Commission has begun its internal preparations. The Congress aims to finish its district and provincial conventions before the local polls.

Setopati reported that Thapa has proposed a campaign running through the month of Mangsir, and that the party is preparing a "Ghar Pharka" (Return Home) campaign once the central committee has discussed it.