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🇳🇵 Nepal /Elections & Politics

Thapa faction presses ahead with Congress convention despite Deuba camp’s legal challenge

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Nepal's Nepali Congress party establishment faction will proceed with its 15th General Convention in October despite a legal challenge from a rival faction.
  • The Supreme Court is reviewing a prior ruling that validated the current leadership, leading the rival faction to demand a suspension of the convention process.
  • The establishment faction insists the convention is constitutionally mandated and will not be delayed, while the rival faction threatens legal action if the process continues unilaterally.

Nepal's Nepali Congress party faces internal turmoil as the establishment faction, led by party president Gagan Thapa, has resolved to hold the 15th General Convention from October 2-5. This decision defies the demands of the rival Sher Bahadur Deuba faction, which seeks to suspend the convention process pending a Supreme Court review of a previous ruling that affirmed Thapa's leadership.

The convention will be held in October. There is no question of delaying it.

— Gagan ThapaAddressing reporters about the party's decision to proceed with the convention.

The party's Central Working Committee met Monday to discuss the convention schedule and its legal standing. Thapa asserted that the party is constitutionally and legally obligated to proceed, stating, "The convention will be held in October. There is no question of delaying it." He vowed to replace any organizers who obstruct the process, emphasizing, "The convention will not stop."

The process starts tomorrow, and we want every ward to take part. If anyone responsible for organising the process tries to obstruct it, we will assign the responsibility to someone else. The convention will not stop.

— Gagan ThapaEmphasizing his faction's commitment to holding the convention.

The Deuba faction, however, argues that the party should not undertake significant actions while the Supreme Court is reconsidering the leadership dispute. "The review means the dispute is still before the court, so the party should not take steps that could fundamentally alter the situation," said Congress leader NP Saud. He warned of seeking an interim court order if the establishment faction acts unilaterally.

The review means the dispute is still before the court, so the party should not take steps that could fundamentally alter the situation.

— NP SaudExplaining the Deuba faction's stance on the Supreme Court review.

Thapa countered that the court's review pertains to legal questions, not the party's internal organizational affairs. "The review will determine whether the earlier judgment was consistent with the constitution and the law. It does not mean the court will decide how the party should conduct its internal politics," he explained. This dispute has intensified a split within the party since January, now centering on the authority to convene the next regular convention.

If the establishment faction proceeds unilaterally, we will seek an interim order from the court.

— NP SaudWarning of legal action if the convention proceeds without addressing the dispute.
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Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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