Nepali Congress Rift Deepens as Rival Factions Announce Parallel Meetings

Internal tensions in the Nepali Congress have intensified, raising fresh fears of a possible party split as rival factions push ahead with parallel political moves.

The crisis deepened after General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma announced a special general convention for January 11–12. In response, the establishment faction led by President Sher Bahadur Deuba has called a separate meeting of central committee members for Friday in New Baneshwor, with around 25 members expected to attend.

The dispute centres on whether to hold a special convention now or proceed with the regular 15th general convention. The establishment camp argues the regular convention should be held only after the March 5 House of Representatives election and has already fixed May 11–14 for it, scrapping the special convention.

Defying this, Thapa and Sharma claim support from 54 percent of delegates and have formed 18 sub-committees to organise the special convention. Meanwhile, the establishment side is planning a youth assembly in Kathmandu on January 11 as a counter-event.

With both camps moving in parallel, divisions inside the Nepali Congress are widening, putting party unity under serious strain ahead of the elections.