NC Gen Convention: Which provinces hold how many votes?

KATHMANDU: The ruling Nepali Congress (NC) is all set to inaugurate its 14th General Convention in the capital from Friday. 

The general convention will elect the party's new leadership for the next five years including 13 office bearers. Delegates from across the country are arriving in Kathmandu to attend the party’s national jamboree. 

As of Thursday afternoon, incumbent President Sher Bahadur Deuba has announced to vie for the presidential position for the second stint. Bimalendra Nidhi, incumbent vice president, is also all set to challenge Deuba. The rival faction led by senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel, however, is yet to forge a consensus to field a common candidate to challenge Deuba and Nidhi. 

Amid the claims of victory by the aspirants of various positions including president, vice presidents, general secretaries and joint general secretaries, calculations are being made on the basis of the number of delegates joining the party congress. 

According to the data availed by the party’s election committee, Bagmati Province holds the highest number of votes followed by Province 2. Karnali, though largest in terms of area, sends the least number of delegates among seven provinces. 

In this story, we discuss the voters for the general convention of the ruling side. 

Province 1 

Home to leaders including Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Dr Shekhar Koirala and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki among others, Province 1 boasts as many as 733 votes. 

Twenty-seven delegates each from Taplejung, Tehrathum, Okhaldhunga and Panchthar, 26 each from Bhojpur, Dhankuta and Sankhuwasabha and 53 from Ilam districts will join the general conventions, according to the party’s election committee. 

Similarly,  132 from Jhapa, 152 from Morang, 105 from Sunsari, 28 from Solukhumbu, 25 from Khotang and 52 from Udayapur will be voting for the new leadership in the general convention. 

Province 2

As many as 705 delegates will join the general convention from eight districts of Province 2. 

Also the home to Nidhi, one of the presidential candidates, the province, however, could not send the number of delegates in its full capacity amidst failure to hold conventions in some constituencies. 

According to the election committee, the highest number of delegates (105) would join from Siraha district. The general convention is expected to witness the presence of 104 delegates each from Saptari, Mahottari, Dhanusha and Bara districts followed by 103 from Parsa. Similarly, Rautahat will send as many as 81 delegates. 

Bagmati Province 

Bagmati boasts the most number of delegates -- 879 from 13 districts. 

The three districts in the Kathmandu Valley alone represent as many as 402 voters --- Kathmandu (266), Lalitpur (82) and Bhaktapur (54). Similarly, 27 each from Dolakha, Ramechhap and Rasuwa, 52 each from Sindhuli, Sindhupalchowk and Makwanpur districts are eligible to cast their votes for the party’s new central executive committee. 

Chitwan’s 79, Dhading’s 54 and 53 each from Nuwakot and Kavre were elected as the representatives for the national jamboree. 

Gandaki Province 

Senior leader Poudel belongs to this province which has delegated 480 representatives.

The election committee shared that 26 from Mustang, 27 each from Manang and Myagdi, 28 each from Lamjung and Parbat and 52 each from Nawalparasi (West) and Baglung will participate in the election process. Similarly, Syangja’s 53, Tanahu’s 54 and Kaski’s 80 will play decisive roles in selecting the new executive committee of the party.

Lumbini Province

As many as 683 delegates will participate in the general convention from 12 districts of Lumbini province. Gulmi, Palpa and Bardiya have sent 53 delegates each followed by Nawalparasi’s 52.

While Rupandehi district sends the highest number of delegates – 131, Arghakhanchi and Rukum (East) will have 26 --- the least representatives-- each.

Similarly, Kapilvastu’s 77, Dang and Banke’s 79 each and Rolpa and Pyuthan’s 27 each are joining the Congress party’s 14th General Convention in the capital.

Karnali Province

The largest province has elected as many as 317 delegates for the national jamboree.

Twenty-seven each from Rukum (West), Salyan, Mugu, Kalikot and Jajarkot will participate in the general convention. While Dailekh sends 54 delegates, Dolpa sends only 24 for the election process. Surkhet and Humla have sent 52 and 26 delegates respectively. 

Sudur Paschim Province 

Home province of President Deuba, Sudur Paschim has elected as many as 419 representatives including 79 from Kanchanpur district. 

While 26 delegates each from Dadeldhura, Doti and Bajhang districts join the national congress, Baitadi and Darchula delegate 27 voters each. 

Kailali has sent the most delegates of 130 from its five electoral constituencies followed by 52 from Achham.