Kathmandu, Sept. 27 -- Former Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba's faction has decided to proceed with a parallel general convention after the party leadership led by President Gagan Thapa refused to halt its convention process.

The Deuba camp plans to begin ward conventions on October 1 and hold its central convention from December 7 to 9, according to leaders at a press conference on Saturday.

Shashank Koirala, coordinator of the faction's convention organising committee, said preparations would follow the timetable. "We had wanted a convention of unity. When that was not possible, we began preparing for our own convention," said Koirala.

The latest dispute centres on the legal status of the special general convention held ...