The establishment faction of Nepali Congress, led by President Sher Bahadur Deuba, formally approached the Election Commission (EC) on Friday morning to assert its legitimacy following a controversial leadership change by a rival faction.
The move comes after a "Special General Convention" organized by the rival group on January 14 declared Gagan Thapa as the new party president.
Speaking to Commission officials, Acting President of the Deuba-aligned faction, Purna Bahadur Khadka, argued that holding a special convention while preparations for the regular general convention were already underway is an assault on the constitution and democratic principles.
Khadka characterized the rival faction's actions as part of a larger "conspiracy" against the current political system.
"Nominations for the National Assembly elections have already been filed, and voting is set for January 25. In this context, we see this move as a serious sign of a grand conspiracy against the Constitution of Nepal, our democracy, and the changes we have achieved," Khadka stated.
The internal rift within Nepal's largest party reached a boiling point yesterday when the Gagan Thapa-led group submitted its own list of newly elected Central Working Committee members to the Election Commission for recognition.
In response, Deuba’s supporters—including CWC office bearers and several district presidents—reached the EC today to present their claim. Leader Kalyan Gurung confirmed that the delegation urged the EC to uphold the legal status of the existing establishment committee.
Current status
The Election Commission is currently reviewing the documents submitted by both sides. Officials have noted that they are investigating the procedural validity of the Special General Convention and whether it adhered to the party’s internal bylaws and the Political Parties Act.
The dispute creates significant legal uncertainty for Nepali Congress as the country nears the National Assembly elections.
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