KATHMANDU: As the Nepali Congress intensifies preparations for its 15th General Convention in the wake of the Gen-Z movement, internal rifts within the influential Koirala family have resurfaced, reviving a long-running legacy of factionalism inside Nepal’s largest party.
During the 14th General Convention, the Koirala family failed to unite, ultimately contributing to Dr. Shekhar Koirala’s defeat against Sher Bahadur Deuba. Now, with the party accelerating toward its next convention, scheduled for January 11–13, the three main Koirala leaders, Dr. Shekhar Koirala, Dr. Shashank Koirala and Sujata Koirala, have yet to forge unity.
The convention date was finalized after weeks of internal disputes. Acting Party President Purna Bahadur Khadka had been delaying the decision, but President Deuba intervened, striking a compromise that brought both regular and special convention proponents on board. Congress spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat described the party as moving toward the convention at rocket speed.
In this fast-changing environment, the Koirala trio has intensified internal preparations. Dr. Shekhar has publicly declared he will contest for party president and win, while Shashank is also staking his claim. Sujata has remained silent but is observing the developments closely.
Dr. Shekhar Koirala enters the race as a strong contender, especially with Deuba out of the running due to statute limitations. However, he still faces the challenge of securing support from leaders like Gagan Thapa, who is also emerging as a powerful candidate. Other aspirants include Gopalman Shrestha, Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Acting President Khadka, who remains a key competitor but lacks firm assurances from Deuba.
Party insiders note that Deuba’s endorsement will likely determine the next president. If he ensures the political future of his wife Arzu Rana, he may still align with Shekhar. But no leader, including Shekhar, currently has clarity on where Deuba’s final support will land. With just a month left, internal equations remain fluid.
Meanwhile, Shekhar has been focusing on strengthening relations with grassroots cadres and exploring possibilities for family unity.
Sujata Koirala, daughter of the late Girija Prasad Koirala, is not positioned strongly in party politics. After failing to win the 2022 election from Morang-2, she has largely shifted to social work, expanding the GP Foundation nationwide. Whether she will support Shekhar in the convention remains uncertain. Although she lacks strong voter influence, her alignment could help present a unified Koirala front, if Shashank also agrees.
Dr. Shashank Koirala, the youngest son of BP Koirala, continues to present himself as a presidential aspirant. In the 14th convention, he did not support his brother Shekhar, a decision that weakened Shekhar’s position. Shashank has long advocated reversing the 2015 Constitution and has maintained distinct ideological and organizational positions.
This time, he claims that either he or Shekhar will run for party president, and both are now engaged in renewed family-level discussions. On Tuesday, he traveled to Chitwan for talks with Shekhar, signaling a possible attempt at reconciliation.
The Koirala family, once a unified force, has been divided since the 13th Convention, a division that leaders aligned with Deuba have repeatedly exploited. Whether they can overcome their old “family illness” this time, or again contest separately, remains a key question as the Congress moves toward a decisive convention.
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