Nepali Congress 15th General Convention: Voting to elect new leadership today, Friday
KATHMANDU:- Voting to elect the new Central Working Committee under the Nepali Congress’s 15th General Convention will now begin only on Friday morning.
The voting schedule was postponed due to adverse weather and technical reasons. Raju Katuwal, Member Secretary of the Election Committee, stated that voting would commence at 7:00 AM on Friday because starting late on Thursday would cause difficulties for voters during the night.
He stated that voting would take place on Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, as the printing of ballot papers had been delayed due to the large number of candidates and voters. Member Secretary Katuwal also noted that there are 7,317 general convention representatives.
Election Committee Coordinator and Senior Advocate Prem Bahadur Khadka explained that while all necessary preparations had been completed, voting would commence only on Friday morning; this decision was made because starting the process in the evening would cause inconvenience to voters throughout the night.
He stated that due to the large number of ballot papers, 32 senior advocates were assisting him in signing them.
Umesh Shrestha, Coordinator of the Financial Management Committee, announced that since the general convention had been extended by a day, the party would cover the costs of the delegates’ hotel accommodation and meals for Friday.
The Election Committee has designated various polling stations for the convenience of the General Convention representatives. Representatives are required to cast their votes at the respective polling stations assigned to them based on their province and group.
According to the Election Committee, voting arrangements have been made as follows: Bagmati Province at the National Assembly Hall (Polling Center ‘A’); Koshi Province at Khulamanch (Polling Center ‘B’); Gandaki Province at Himal Hall; Madhesh Province at Tarai-Madhesh Hall; and Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim Provinces—along with representatives from the Nepali Public Relations Committee and sister organizations—at Pahad Hall.
According to the Election Committee, 7,255 representatives participating in the general convention will cast their votes to elect the new Central Working Committee.
The Election Committee has requested representatives to proceed to the designated voting centers for their respective provinces and groups to cast their votes after entering the polling venue.
Before voting, the identity cards and voter registration details of each representative will be verified. Arrangements have been made to allow representatives to cast their votes only after this verification process is completed.
The Election Committee has stated that items prohibited by the election code of conduct—such as mobile phones—are not permitted inside the polling station. Representatives will be allowed to vote only after fulfilling the procedures prescribed by the Election Committee.
The processes for filing nominations, lodging claims and objections, and withdrawing candidacies for the Central Working Committee election—part of the Congress party’s 15th General Convention—have been completed. Following the conclusion of these procedures, the Election Committee has published the final list of candidates.
Voting will now take place to elect the President, Vice-Presidents, General Secretaries, Joint General Secretaries, and Central Members representing various categories. General Convention delegates will cast their votes on the respective ballot papers based on the nominations filed for these various positions.
The Election Committee has announced that vote counting will commence once voting concludes. Following the end of voting, the ballot boxes will be securely managed, and the necessary procedures completed before the counting process begins.
The Election Committee stated that the election results will be made public after the vote counting is concluded. This process will lead to the selection of the new central leadership through the Congress party’s 15th General Convention.
The 15th General Convention has amended the statute to expand the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee to 297 members. Office bearers and central members elected under this new structure will lead the party for the upcoming term.
