A bitter power struggle within Nepal’s Nepali Congress has escalated dramatically, with Sher Bahadur Deuba’s faction vowing to contest the Election Commission’s leadership endorsement in the Supreme Court. The move comes hot on the heels of the Commission’s Friday announcement recognizing Gagan Thapa’s newly elected central committee.
Both rival groups had approached the Commission claiming to represent the true voice of the party. Thapa’s special general convention (SGC), conducted without Deuba’s consent, produced a committee that the Commission has now validated. Deuba’s supporters see this as an unconstitutional overreach.
In a strongly worded press release, Deuba’s group lambasted the decision as disregarding evidence and party bylaws. Acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka received the mandate to file a Supreme Court petition and pursue all legal remedies without delay.
On the other side, Thapa’s camp is doubling down on election preparations. Their Saturday meeting focused on fostering unity among ranks to tackle the upcoming parliamentary polls on March 5. They plan to extend an olive branch to Deuba, suggesting a ceremonial advisory position for him.
The stakes couldn’t be higher with FPTP nomination deadlines looming on January 20. A failure to secure a court injunction means Thapa’s faction will control nominations for direct constituency seats, a massive blow to Deuba’s ambitions. Proportional lists are already locked in with the Commission.
With 165 seats at play in FPTP and 110 in proportional representation, totaling 275 in the House, this feud threatens to fracture the party’s electoral prospects. Observers warn that prolonged infighting could weaken Nepali Congress against rivals, altering Nepal’s political equilibrium as the Supreme Court prepares to intervene.
