KATHMANDU: Even after the Gen Z uprising and the dissolution of Parliament, Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba has refused to step down, prompting party members favoring leadership change to discuss alternative strategies.

According to the party statute, Deuba can be removed in two ways.

First, he can resign, allowing Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka to serve as acting president, with a general convention held within six months.

Second, 40 percent of central committee members can demand a special convention, which must be conducted within three months to elect new leadership. However, since most central members are loyal to Deuba, securing the 40 percent threshold is challenging.

Seeing little likelihood of leadership leaving voluntarily, party insiders are preparing different approaches.

One strategy is to prevent Deuba from presiding over any meeting until he grants the position of “acting president.” Another is to boycott any meetings called by Deuba after he returns from the hospital.

A third approach under discussion is to unite all change supporters and force Deuba to resign.

In this plan, all office bearers and central committee members supporting change would resign, creating pressure on Deuba to vacate his position.

“We are discussing these options. But it would have been easier if the president himself stepped down,” said a central committee member participating in the discussions.

Nepali Congress joint general secretary Jeevan Pariyar has suggested restructuring the party according to the statute.

On social media, he wrote: “As per Article 17, Subsection 2 of the General Convention Procedure, I recommend convening a special general convention within three months to elect a new central working committee.”