KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has constituted a distinct bench to resolve the dispute of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP).

According to EC sources, a meeting of the officials of the Commission held on Wednesday decided to form a five-member bench headed by Chief Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya for the hearing on JSP dispute.

EC decided to call both factions of JSP, with their lawyers if needed, for the hearing on Sunday, July 18.

Earlier, JSP Chairman Upendra Yadav faction filed a petition with the commission demanding to resolve the party dispute as per Article 44 of the Political Parties Act 2016.

EC has decided to go with the hearing process after its attempt to reach consensus by calling both rival factions led by Yadav and another Chairman Mahantha Thakur to the office failed.