By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Sept. 2: Process for the 14th general convention of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) is all set to begin from Friday (September 3).
Confirming that the ward level general convention would begin on September 3, NC Spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma on Wednesday requested the party’s active members and office-bearers to wear face masks and maintain safety protocols while attending the convention. 

Talking with the journalists, he said that there was no option but to begin the general convention process. Sharma said the convention was being held amid COVID-19 pandemic and appealed to everyone attending the meeting to follow and maintain health protocols for the safety of themselves and the society. 
He, however, said there were two challenges to begin the ward level convention. “The row surfaced over the distribution of active membership has been settled,” Sharma said, adding that there was still a risk of the ongoing pandemic and the date for the general convention has been announced only in 56 of 77 districts across the country.

"The general convention is not held only for the central convention or the national convention but is celebrated when each ward of every district holds its convention on the same day,” he said.
The NC spokesperson further said that the leaders of the districts where the party activists could not take part in the
convention for some reasons can consult with the central election committee to defer the convention for a few days. But, the NC has decided to start the general convention on September 3 in all other districts across the country.

The NC’s Election Committee has appointed election officers in all districts from the Democratic Lawyers’ Society (DLS) affiliated legal practitioners who are considered close to the party for the local level convention.
The NC had amended their party statute to ensure full democratic exercise right from the local level and has made arrangements for the same at Tole, ward, village / municipality, province assembly level constituencies, constituencies of the federal parliament, district working committee, province working committee and central working committee.
According to the new statute, the NC Central Working Committee will have a total of 168 members including a president, two vice presidents, two general secretaries, eight joint general secretaries, a treasurer and 154 central members.

Meanwhile, NC Central Working Committee member Kalyan Gurung has announced his candidacy for the post of party president.
In a programme organised in the capital, he announced his candidacy with his commitment to work for controlling corruption.