KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress has formally split since Wednesday, triggering an intensifying legal battle over party legitimacy, including claims to the party symbol: the tree, and the four-star flag.
One faction is led by Gagan Thapa, who was elected through the special general convention, while the other comprises leaders aligned with Sher Bahadur Deuba, who rejected the special convention process. Both sides are claiming official status by citing the party statute, and the dispute has now reached the Election Commission. Leaders from both camps have expressed confidence that the commission will deliver a decision soon.
Amid the growing dispute, both factions are consulting legal experts. The Thapa-led group on Thursday visited the Election Commission, where it briefed officials on the election process and held discussions in the presence of legal advisors. On the other hand, leaders from the Deuba-aligned group, including Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka, have also been engaged in extensive consultations with legal experts.
A meeting held at Deuba’s Maharajgunj residence lasted around three hours and was attended by Deuba, Khadka, Dr. Shekhar Koirala, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, among others. According to one leader present, discussions focused exclusively on the fight for party legitimacy, with legal experts offering their opinions on possible courses of action.
Both factions have already registered documents at the Election Commission staking their claims to legality. Senior advocates Upendra Keshari Neupane, Sher Bahadur KC, Yogendra Bahadur Adhikari, Egaraj Pokharel, and Gyanendra Adhikari, among others, participated in the legal consultations to help shape further strategy.
According to Adhikari, the discussions centered on the Central Working Committee’s earlier decision to hold a regular general convention, the legal status of the committee formed under Thapa’s leadership through the special general convention, and potential decisions that could come from the Election Commission.
He noted that both Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma had already signed the minutes calling for a regular general convention. “After facilitating a move toward a regular convention by halting the special convention process, the argument we have presented is that, under the statute, a special convention should not be granted legal validity in such a situation,” he said.
Leaders aligned with the establishment faction have also urged legal experts to ensure that the committee elected by the 14th general convention remains intact. They have asked lawyers to stay prepared to respond to developments arising from the post–special convention scenario.
Earlier on Wednesday, a meeting of the establishment-aligned Congress Central Working Committee decided to expel General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma, along with Joint General Secretary Farmullah Mansoor, stripping them of even basic party membership for five years.
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