As the party’s general convention draws closer, the Deuba faction of the Nepali Congress has mobilised supporters to gauge the popularity of senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, who is preparing to run for the party presidency.

Based on the findings, the faction is expected to prepare its campaign strategy. According to Deuba supporters, a team is busy analysing Deuba’s support base in the party rank and file. “We have received reports from 40 districts,” said a leader close to Deuba.

Even central leaders are being deputed to key districts for a thorough assessment. “After the ground analysis, we will make a strategy to strengthen our position,” said Central Working Committee member Ramesh Rijal, a Deuba supporter. Leaders say the 13th General Convention of the party is going to be a “do or die situation” for them as Deuba has already lost the party presidency twice.

“Since this is the last chance for Deuba, we are working hard to secure victory,” said another leader. Deuba is the first to start the election campaign by establishing the contact office.

As the election campaign gathers momentum, CWC members Shyam Ghimire, Chandra Bhandari, Man Bahadur Bishwokarma and Keshav Budhathoki have joined the Deuba camp. Earlier, they were close to

NC President Sushil Koirala. They are attending

factional meetings called by Deuba these days, according to leaders.

According to Rijal, they are working to bring more establishment faction leaders into their fold. Meanwhile, the Deuba faction has charged the establishment faction with bias while taking decisions over active membership.

“The party president lingered the issue of active membership and took the decision at the last hour in his favour,” said Prakash Sharan Mahat. While the Office Bearers took the decision, Deuba was reportedly absent from the meeting.

As per the decision, hundreds of new active members in Solukhumbu, Kailali and Rautahat have been disqualified from attending the general convention.

Since the committee led by Narahari Acharya failed to settle the dispute, Koirala was entrusted to take the final call. The Koirala faction, however, has defended the move saying that it was already too late.

The establishment faction has also proposed making the president more powerful, which meets Deuba’s opposition. “It’s not true that the party president is failing to perform due to the lack of authority. It’s a populist proposal,” said Mahat.