Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress has officially split after party President Sher Bahadur Deuba refused to step down, triggering a leadership and reform dispute that could not be resolved. The division marks one of the most serious crises in the party’s recent history.
The Deuba faction of the party took disciplinary action against senior leaders Gagan Thapa, Bishwo Prakash Sharma, and Deputy General Secretary Farmullah Mansur, imposing a five-year ban for alleged violations of party discipline. Meanwhile, the faction supporting a special general convention has moved ahead with a process to elect Gagan Thapa as the next party chairperson.
Leaders advocating for a change in leadership had repeatedly stated that the party could not contest upcoming elections under Deuba’s leadership. However, Deuba’s unwillingness to relinquish his position ultimately resulted in the party’s division.
The split reflects a long-standing struggle within Congress between leaders pushing for organizational reform and those resisting changes. According to the party’s central committee, Thapa and other leaders faced disciplinary action for violating party rules. Following the disciplinary announcement, Gagan Thapa stated, “This party is not anyone’s private company. It is a party that has made history and led movements.”
Previously, Deuba’s faction had opposed holding a special general convention, arguing that the party must continue its preparations for regular elections. The central working committee had even set the date for the regular convention for the last week of Baisakh. However, over 54 percent of Congress delegates had earlier demanded a special convention. The faction supporting the special convention insisted that party statutes could not be ignored and pressed ahead with the process.
As the deadline for convening the special convention approached on Poush 28, the pro-convention faction insisted that the event must take place regardless of opposition. During the convention, repeated attempts were made to resolve the conflict and prevent a split, with both sides establishing dialogue teams to exchange messages. However, when neither faction relented, the party formally reached a breaking point.
The division of Nepali Congress underscores the deep-seated rifts over leadership, reform, and organizational control, raising questions about the party’s ability to maintain unity ahead of upcoming national elections.
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