Nepali Congress on the Brink as Leadership Talks Collapse

Deepening internal rifts have pushed the Nepali Congress to the brink of a formal split, party leaders say.

Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka told establishment faction leaders during a Wednesday briefing in Sanepa that negotiations with the General Secretaries had collapsed, making a party division “almost certain.” He said talks failed after the General Secretaries stuck to three key demands: naming Gagan Thapa as the post-election prime ministerial candidate, ensuring the political retirement of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, and forming a high command to control House of Representatives ticket distribution.

Leader close to Deuba, Ramesh Lekhak, said the dialogue broke down despite repeated efforts and flexibility from the leadership, including Deuba’s offer to delegate ticket distribution authority, which failed to secure consensus.