KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress faction opposed to party president Gagan Thapa is preparing for a major show of strength ahead of former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba’s return to Nepal, with senior leaders gearing up to welcome him at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Deuba’s supporters appear to be preparing the reception as a demonstration of their political strength and as a message to the leadership elected through the party’s special general convention.
Asked whether the national gathering was being organised to challenge the leadership elected through the special convention, Congress leader Prakash Sharan Mahat said the event was primarily intended to welcome and honour Deuba.
“Can welcoming and honouring a five-time prime minister and senior Congress leader be called a show of strength? He is returning to bring the Congress together,” Mahat said.
The dispute within the Congress has also reached the courts. Following the special general convention held last year, the rival leadership dispute was taken to the Supreme Court and the Election Commission. The dissenting faction maintains that the legal process will ultimately determine the party’s legitimate leadership.
Claim of 7,000 at airport
Former Congress president Deuba is scheduled to arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport at noon on August 13.
Congress leader Min Bishwakarma claims that more than 7,000 people will gather at the airport to welcome him. He said party leaders and cadres are expected to turn up spontaneously rather than through a centrally organised mobilisation.
Dr Shekhar Koirala is also expected to participate in the welcome, although he is scheduled to address the national gathering on August 14.
Senior Congress leaders are expected to be at the forefront of the reception, while a delegation led by Dr Shashank Koirala, son of party ideologue BP Koirala, is also expected to participate.
Amid speculation that Deuba could be arrested immediately after landing in Nepal in connection with money-laundering or other cases, government sources have so far provided no official confirmation.
Mahat dismissed the speculation, saying there must be a legal basis for any arrest.
“Why would he be arrested? There must be a proper basis for an arrest. A large number of Congress supporters will be outside the airport to welcome him,” he said.
Bishwakarma said the government has also been informed about arrangements for Deuba’s security.
Slogans such as “Deuba Aau, Congress Bachau” (Deuba, return and save the Congress) are also reportedly being prepared for the reception. Posters carrying similar slogans have appeared widely on social media, although party leaders have declined to comment on them.
Special convention faction left out
Office bearers elected through the special general convention have not been invited to the national gathering scheduled for August 14.
However, the 54 percent of general convention representatives who attended the special convention have reportedly been invited.
Congress General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire said the organisers were free to hold a gathering but warned that it should not harm the party.
“We have no information about an invitation. They can hold a gathering, but it should not harm the party. Such gatherings have been held in the Congress in the past, but they should not affect the party’s official status,” Ghimire said.
The dissenting faction has already opened a party contact office in Chundevi, with Dr Shashank Koirala appearing to lead the effort.
Young Congress leader Kanchharam Tamang claims the August 14 gathering will demonstrate which faction commands greater support within the party.
He also claims that more than 80 official Congress representatives will support Deuba.
“More than 80 official members affiliated with the Nepali Congress will stand with Sher Bahadur Deuba. If not, wait and see the national gathering on August 29. There will be an overwhelming crowd,” Tamang told Khabarhub.
Tamang further claimed that several leaders who participated in the special convention but have not yet openly taken sides could eventually join the Deuba camp.
“Gagan is being provoked by the leaders around him. Those same leaders will eventually come to our side. Some will join the national gathering and others will follow later,” he said.
He accused Thapa of being the main reason behind the party’s division, while claiming that Deuba was seeking unity.
Party split or reconciliation?
The outcome of the national gathering could determine whether the Congress moves towards reconciliation or a formal split, according to leaders on both sides.
Some leaders believe that if the gathering demonstrates substantial support for Deuba, the former president could move towards splitting the party. However, there is also speculation that Deuba could put forward leaders such as Purna Bahadur Khadka or Shashank Koirala rather than seek the leadership himself.
No formal conclusion has yet emerged that Deuba’s return will automatically lead to a party split. However, tensions have brought the Congress close to a major organisational rupture.
Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak said Deuba’s return would be crucial in determining the party’s next course.
“Deuba is returning to Nepal. We have been waiting for him. He himself will determine whether the party moves towards a split or unity. After the national gathering on August 29, we will decide how to move forward,” Lekhak said.
He maintained that the faction remains committed to keeping the party united but claimed that other leaders had not shown sufficient flexibility.
Deuba faction leaders Min Bishwakarma and Prakash Sharan Mahat have also accused Thapa of refusing to compromise.
Establishment faction General Secretary Pradeep Paudel, however, said repeated attempts at dialogue had failed because leaders kept changing their positions.
“We have repeatedly tried to initiate unity. Whenever an agreement appears possible, leaders again become confrontational. Anyone, whether senior or junior, should accept leadership that has emerged through due process,” Paudel said.
He said the Congress could remain united if leaders respected the party’s statute and procedures.
“We respect their gathering, but this is the time for everyone to prevent the party from splitting,” Paudel said.
Shekhar caught between two camps
The national gathering is expected to bring together several senior Congress leaders as well as younger figures. Leaders who have so far remained outside both the establishment and dissenting factions have also reportedly been invited.
One Congress lawmaker said he had received an invitation but would not attend.
“I did not participate in Gagan’s programme on BP Memorial Day, nor did I participate in the programme organised by Shashank. Instead, I attended a programme in my district,” the lawmaker said.
According to Bishwakarma, several senior leaders will address the gathering, including Dr Shekhar Koirala, Dr Shashank Koirala, Bimalendra Nidhi, Krishna Sitaula, Prakash Man Singh, Mahalakshmi Upadhyay ‘Dina’, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Dhanraj Gurung.
The growing alignment of senior leaders around Deuba is being closely watched, particularly because Dr Shekhar Koirala, who has previously opposed Deuba, is now expected to appear alongside him.
Deuba’s supporters have also begun discussing the possibility of challenging the legitimacy of the special general convention, as the dispute remains under judicial review. Several leaders, however, have cautioned against commenting on an issue currently before the court.
The battle for the Congress symbol
At the heart of the dispute is not only control of the party but also control of the Nepali Congress’ official identity, including its four-star flag, tree election symbol and party apparatus.
The Thapa-led faction currently holds the party’s official documentation and controls the party headquarters in Sanepa.
The Deuba faction, meanwhile, appears determined to challenge that position through political and legal means.
‘I will speak for unity, not division’
Dr Shekhar Koirala’s position remains particularly significant.
Koirala says he will attend and address the national gathering not to split the party but to bring its rival factions together.
“I am attending the national gathering to address it. I am not working to split the party but to unite it. My effort will be to bring Gagan, Sher Bahadur and other senior leaders together,” Koirala said.
He said he remained committed to party unity and viewed the national gathering as an opportunity to make an appeal for reconciliation.
Koirala’s expected alignment with Deuba marks a significant shift in the Congress power struggle. He had previously been politically aligned with Thapa but has become increasingly distant from the current party president.
Some Congress leaders argue that Koirala’s indecisive position has also contributed to the party’s current crisis.
Koirala maintained a cautious position during the special general convention as well and has yet to fully commit himself to either camp.
With Deuba’s return and the August 29 national gathering approaching, the Congress now faces a crucial test: whether the rival factions can negotiate a political settlement or whether the current confrontation will push Nepal’s oldest major democratic party towards a formal split.
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