KATHMANDU: The Election Commission has decided not to grant official recognition to both factions of the Nepal Communist Party of Nepal (NCP).

A meeting of the EC held on Sunday decided not to accept the claim of the authority of both factions.

The decision was taken after both the factions — Prachanda-Nepal faction and the KP Oli-led faction — filed a petition with the Election Commission claiming to be the official one.

However, EC Spokesperson Raj Kumar Shrestha, informed that the decision was taken amid claims made by both factions.

The EC said it would recognize the 441-member central committee chaired by KP Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”.

The EC has recognized the united party – the Nepal Communist Party — registered with it having KP Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal as two chairmen.

The EC has also said it would not accept the decision of the Prachanda-Nepal faction to oust KP Oli from the general membership, and the decision to make Madhav Kumar Nepal the chairman of the party.

With this decision, the NCP factions have to register a new party with the Election Commission to go to the general elections.

The EC had earlier said it would conduct an investigation to verify claims made by both the factions of the Nepal Communist Party before granting an official recognition to one of the two factions.

The NCP which split politically after the dissolution of the House of Representatives on December 20 is still seen as a single party by the EC.