Voting to elect the new leadership of the Nepali Congress, Nepal’s largest democratic political party, under its 15th General Convention has been postponed for a second time, with the process now scheduled to begin at 2 PM today, October 8, 2026. The Election Committee announced the further delay, citing incomplete preparations for the voting process.Initially, voting was slated to begin at 7 AM, but it was first postponed to 10 AM due to heavy rain and technical issues. The voting is taking place on the fifth day of the General Convention, which runs from October 4 to 8, 2026, in Kathmandu.The Election Committee has designated seven polling centres across three locations in Kathmandu for the 7,255 delegates participating in the election:
- Rastriya Sabha Griha: Delegates from Bagmati Province will cast their votes here.
- Khula Manch: Delegates from Koshi, Madhesh, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim provinces will vote here. Voting arrangements have also been made at Khula Manch for delegates from sister and benevolent organisations, as well as public relations committees.
- Nepal Academy Building: This centre is designated for delegates from Gandaki and Lumbini provinces.
These 7,255 delegates will elect the party’s new leadership, including the president, senior vice-president, vice-president, general secretary, and joint general secretaries.Before the voting commences, the Election Committee is scheduled to hold a discussion with all candidates for the posts of president, vice-president, and general secretary. This meeting is set for 11:30 AM at the election office.The Nepali Congress’s central working committee will comprise 297 members. Of these, 211 will be elected through the General Convention, while 66 will be nominated by the party president. The president can also nominate four joint general secretaries and one treasurer.Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa stated that the campaign to address good governance, poverty, unemployment, and social injustice aims to transform the nation rather than merely compete with other parties. Vice-President Bishwa Prakash Sharma emphasised that the initiative seeks to heal national wounds, strengthen civic participation, and foster a culture of political accountability.The Nepali Congress’s 14th General Convention was held in December 2021. Preparations for the 15th General Convention were affected by delays in renewing and verifying active party memberships. A special General Convention, led by Gagan Thapa, was held in January 2026, which replaced the leadership of former President Sher Bahadur Deuwa. The Election Commission officially recognised Thapa’s committee on January 16, and the Supreme Court upheld this recognition on April 17. The Election Committee published the final list of candidates for president, office bearers, and central members on Wednesday evening.Following the completion of voting, the counting of ballots will begin, and the results will be announced. However, no specific timeline has been set for when the voting process will conclude or when the election results will be declared.
