KATHMANDU: One of the country’s largest political parties, the Nepali Congress (NC), appears to be moving toward a possible split, as tensions escalate between the establishment faction and the camp led by General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma.
The latest development comes after the two general secretaries announced a second special general convention for January 11 and 12. In response, the party’s establishment faction has decided to convene a separate gathering of central committee members.
Following discussions with party President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday, the establishment faction decided to call a meeting of central members. According to a central committee member, the gathering will take place on Friday at 10:30 am in New Baneshwor.
“Central members aligned with the establishment faction will meet at 10:30 am on Friday. Senior leaders have not been invited to this gathering,” the leader said, adding that around 25 central committee members from the establishment camp are expected to participate.
Disputes over whether to hold a special general convention or proceed with the regular 15th general convention have continued to intensify. Establishment-aligned central members have held multiple rounds of internal discussions on the issue.
They have also met several times with senior party leaders. The establishment faction remains firm on its stance that the 15th general convention should not be held before the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5.
Earlier, the party’s Central Working Committee meeting held on Poush 18 had formally scrapped the special general convention announced by the two general secretaries. The NC’s majority faction has already set new dates for the 15th general convention, from May 11 to 14.
Despite this, Thapa and Sharma have moved ahead with preparations for the special general convention, claiming the support of 54 percent of general convention representatives through collected signatures. Eighteen sub-committees have already been formed to organize the special convention. Party insiders say that if the special convention secures a majority, a new central working committee could be announced from there.
Meanwhile, the establishment faction is also working on counter-strategies. Challenging the special general convention, the establishment camp is planning a youth gathering in Kathmandu on the same day, January 11.
The youth assembly is scheduled to begin at 11:30 am at the party’s central office in Sanepa, B.P. Nagar, Lalitpur. It will be held under the slogan “General Election, 15th General Convention and the Role of Youth.”
The event is being organized by the party’s sister organizations, with coordination by Nepal Tarun Dal President Bidhwan Gurung.
With both sides pushing parallel political programs and mobilizations, the internal rift within the Nepali Congress is widening, raising serious questions about party unity ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election.
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