The Sher Bahadur Deuba-led faction of Nepali Congress (NC) has formally requested the Election Commission (EC) to suspend all upcoming election schedules until a Supreme Court verdict is issued regarding the party's internal leadership dispute.
NC Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Paudel, accompanied by former Attorney General Khamba Bahadur Khati and advocate Keshav Raj Joshi, filed a petition at the EC on Sunday. The move follows the Election Commission's January 16 decision to recognize a new Central Working Committee led by Gagan Thapa, which was formed through a special general convention.
The Deuba faction challenged this recognition in the Supreme Court on Sunday morning. The court has scheduled the initial hearing for January 20 —coincidentally the same day the EC has set for the registration of nominations for the House of Representatives elections, currently slated for March 5.
"We have requested the suspension of the entire election timetable, including nominations, until the Supreme Court adjudicates the writ petition," the petition stated.
The internal rift has drawn concern from across the political spectrum. Major parties, including CPN (UML), Nepali Communist Party, and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), have also urged the Commission to postpone the nomination deadline to ensure political stability. The Election Commission is reportedly deliberating on these requests.
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