Deuba faction of Congress to move court against Election Commission decision

Kathmandu: The Sher Bahadur Deuba-aligned faction of the Nepali Congress has decided to challenge the Election Commission’s decision to recognise the Gagan Thapa-led committee elected by the recent special convention. The EC’s decision on Friday granted legitimacy to the Thapa-led group of the Nepali Congress, amounting to a split in Nepal’s oldest party. The special convention on Thursday elected Thapa as the new Congress president along with a new committee.

The Deuba group has described the decision as malicious. At a meeting held at the party office in Sanepa on Saturday, senior leaders aligned with Deuba decided to challenge the Election Commission’s decision in court. “We plan to go to the Supreme Court on Sunday with our claims,” said Prakash Sharan Mahat, a leader from the Deuba group, after the meeting.

While recognising the Thapa-led Congress, the EC has left the option open for the Deuba group to form a new party of its own if it so wishes. Alternatively, the Deuba faction can agree to come under the committee elected by the special convention. In that case, the party can remain united under the Nepali Congress banner.

After the Gen Z protests, the Thapa-led dissident camp called for a special convention, but the establishment led by Deuba—who was elected party president at the last convention—rejected the idea. After Deuba had the central committee schedule a regular convention for mid-May, the Thapa group decided to proceed with the special convention.

This subsequently pushed the internal crisis within the Congress party to its peak, resulting in a sharp fissure. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress on Saturday formed a parliamentary board to select candidates for the direct elections scheduled for March 5. Political parties are required to submit nominations by January 20.