Pokhara, Jan. 14: With the preparations for the 10th General Convention of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) party almost complete, Pokhara seems to be politically charged. The 4-day Convention starts on January 19.
Talking to The Rising Nepal, Shukra Raj Sharma, coordinator of a five-member local main management committee and the party’s district President, said that all necessary preparations and arrangements for the General Convention have been completed.
A 15-member General Convention Preparation Committee has been formed under the convenorship of the party General Secretary Sushil Koirala. There is also a five-member follow-up committee, with K. B. Gurung as coordinator, at the central level. A total of 26 different committees have been formed to assist the Convention and most of them have completed their works.
A total of 1487 participants, which include seven representatives from each of 205 constituencies and 52 additional representatives, will be participating in the General Convention.
According to information received from the Housing Management Committee, necessary arrangements have been made to provide housing facilities to senior party leaders, General Convention representatives and other invitees.
Prime Minister and Party President Girija Prasad Koirala and Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel will stay at the guesthouse of the Pokhara-based Nepal Rastra Bank Office. Former Prime Minister, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, who is also the party’s former president, will be housed at the guesthouse of the Agricultural Development Bank. Likewise, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will stay at the guesthouse of Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City at the Lake Side.
The management committee said it was trying to house other ministers at the government guesthouses. According to the management committee, it will provide all vegetarian food to the participants.
The Committee also informed that the housing arrangements have also been made for other national and foreign leaders and invitees participating in the convention.
Ramji Kunwar, coordinator of housing sub-committee, said housing facility and food would also be provided to other 1,100 party activists during the convention.
Hotels at the Mahendra Bridge and Prithvi Chowk areas have been booked for the participants. “Such arrangements have been made considering the convenience of transportation to and from the Convention venue,” said Kunwar. Similarly, the invitee journalists will be provided rooms at Prithvi Chowk and Srijana Chowk hotels.
According to NC Spokesman Narahari Acharya, the inaugural function of the General Convention will be held at the Pokhara Stadium and the other sessions of the convention, including the closed session, will be held at the Dipendra Convention Hall.
Mass meetings will be held on the opening and closing days of the convention. (on Jan. 19 and 22). Around 50,000 people are expected to participate in the mass meetings.
The Chief District Officer of the Kaski district, Ram Prasad Khatiwada said keeping in view the present security situation of the country arrangements related to security have been tightened.
Man Bahadur Rawal, Superintendent of Police (SP), said that special security arrangement would be made during the convention. There will also be the members of the ex-Army Association for security.
More than 400 party activists would be mobilized as volunteers. All the activities related to the General Convention have been carried out by the Kaski district office of the Nepali Congress. The Central Working Committee meeting to be held on Jan. 18 is scheduled to take place at the party’s district office.