KATHMANDU: Political polarization has intensified within the Nepali Congress (NC) as the party prepares for its 15th General Convention, scheduled to begin on October 2.
While senior leaders Dr. Shekhar Koirala and former acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka have yet to openly align themselves with either side, several other leaders have begun shifting camps from Chundevi, associated with former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, to Sanepa, where party president Gagan Thapa and his supporters are based.
According to sources close to Nepali Congress leaders Kedar Karki and Gagan Thapa, both have reached a position of remaining neutral and are unlikely to participate in either faction’s activities during the general convention.
Although former party president Deuba had previously announced that he would not contest the upcoming general convention, several leaders who had been associated with his camp have now left Chundevi and moved to Sanepa to support Thapa. Among them is leader Kiran Yadav, who has also shifted from the Deuba camp to the group led by Thapa.
The Nepali Congress Central Working Committee meeting is being held in Sanepa on Thursday. Leaders including Min Bishwakarma, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Rajiv Bikram Shah and Ramhari Khatiwada have also been seen participating in the ongoing discussions. The movement of leaders from one camp to another ahead of the general convention has increased uncertainty within the Deuba faction.
The departure of senior leaders Khadka and Koirala from both camps, without clearly revealing their positions, has added to the uncertainty. Meanwhile, several leaders who see greater political prospects under the current party leadership have increasingly begun to align themselves with the establishment side.
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