KATHMANDU: As the Nepali Congress under President Gagan Thapa moves ahead with preparations for its 15th General Convention, former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba has intensified activities of his faction from Chundevi.
Deuba, who became party president at the 14th General Convention, was removed from the leadership after the second special general convention held in late Poush 2082, which paved the way for Thapa to take over the party leadership.
Since returning to Kathmandu on August 28 after travelling to Singapore on Falgun 13, Deuba has made Chundevi in Budhanilkantha a centre of activity for his faction.
Leaders ranging from junior to senior members who have refused to accept Thapa as party president have been increasingly active at Chundevi. Dozens of leaders from district and central levels were seen there on Monday, with some welcoming Deuba with traditional garlands and shawls.
Deuba has also set up an office arranged by Kancharam Tamang, where a board identifying him as party president has been placed.
Deuba and former Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court on Friday seeking to halt the party’s general convention. Meanwhile, leaders of the rival faction have intensified their efforts to support Deuba after the Supreme Court decided to review its earlier decision recognising Thapa as the legitimate party president on Shrawan 22.
However, Deuba did not call for splitting the party or forming a new party during the rival faction’s national gathering held from Shrawan 29 to 31.
Instead, he has maintained that he would not comment on the issue while the matter remains sub judice and has refrained from directly criticising Thapa.
Despite this, Deuba’s decision to occupy an office bearing the title of party president and assume the position has emerged as a direct challenge to Thapa’s leadership.
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