A deepening schism in Nepal’s Nepali Congress party has reached fever pitch, with Sher Bahadur Deuba’s supporters vowing to drag the Election Commission’s controversial verdict to the Supreme Court. The announcement came Saturday, just a day after the Commission endorsed Gagan Thapa’s newly elected leadership from a contentious special convention.

Both factions had approached the Commission claiming legitimacy, but it sided with Thapa’s group, recognizing the central committee formed without Deuba’s consent during the January 11-14 gathering. Deuba’s faction decried the move as a blatant disregard for constitutional norms, party bylaws, and their evidentiary submissions.

In a resolute statement, the group empowered acting chair Purna Bahadur Khadka to launch legal proceedings immediately—potentially Sunday—against the Commission’s ‘one-sided’ decision. The stakes couldn’t be higher with parliamentary elections looming on March 5.

Thapa’s side, convening separately, struck a conciliatory tone. They called for party unity to face the polls united and floated the idea of Deuba serving in an advisory capacity. Spokesperson Devraj Chalise highlighted the inaugural meeting of the new committee’s focus on electoral solidarity.

The real crunch looms over FPTP nominations due January 20. Without a court injunction halting the Commission’s nod, Thapa’s faction will control candidate selections, potentially crippling Deuba’s influence. Closed lists for proportional seats are already in.

With 165 FPTP and 110 proportional seats making up the 275-member parliament, this courtroom battle could define the Nepali Congress’s fate and ripple across Nepal’s volatile politics, testing the judiciary’s role in party disputes.