In a dramatic turn, Nepal’s Supreme Court is set to decide the fate of the Nepali Congress amid a bitter leadership showdown between Sher Bahadur Deuba and Gagan Thapa factions. Deuba’s group, rejected by the Election Commission, plans an immediate court challenge following the panel’s validation of Thapa’s convention-elected team.
The Election Commission dropped its bombshell on Friday, greenlighting the central working committee from Thapa’s special general convention (SGC), held without Deuba’s consent. Both sides had approached the commission claiming legitimacy, but only Thapa’s emerged victorious—for now.
Deuba’s interim leader Purna Bahadur Khadka received the mandate during a Saturday huddle to rush to the apex court. The faction decries the decision as unconstitutional and a slap to party bylaws, insisting their proofs were overlooked in a hasty judgment.
On the other side, Thapa’s camp doubled down on reconciliation Saturday, calling for party unity to tackle the looming parliamentary elections on March 5. They aim to coax Deuba into a ceremonial advisory position, hoping to consolidate forces.
With FPTP nomination deadlines looming on January 20, the stakes are sky-high. Nepal’s 275-member parliament features 165 direct seats via FPTP and 110 through proportional representation, where lists are already locked in. A court stay could flip the script; otherwise, Thapa holds the nomination reins, a potential death knell for Deuba’s ambitions.
This isn’t just infighting—it’s a power struggle that could splinter voter support and alter election dynamics. As legal arguments brew, Nepal’s democracy hangs in the balance. The Supreme Court’s ruling will not only settle leadership but signal how electoral bodies wield authority in turbulent times.
