KATHMANDU, Jan 14: The Nepali Congress (NC), Nepal’s oldest and once-unifying political party, has formally split after party President Sher Bahadur Deuba allegedly refused to step aside amid mounting demands for leadership change and internal party transformation.
The Deuba-led faction on Wednesday took disciplinary action against General Secretary Gagan Thapa, General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Joint General Secretary Farmullah Mansoor, suspending them from even ordinary party membership for five years. The action, party leaders said, was taken over alleged violations of party rules and attempts to challenge the established leadership.
NC splits for the third time as leadership rift escalates into...
In response, supporters of the Special General Convention have moved ahead with their process to select Gagan Thapa as the new party president, signaling a decisive challenge to Deuba’s authority. NC CWC member Ajaya Babu Siwakoti, a close ally of Thapa, called the disciplinary action “unauthorized” and said it undermines all efforts to keep the party united.
The split comes after months of tension between the party establishment and leaders pushing for a Special General Convention. Proponents of the convention had repeatedly demanded a leadership change, arguing that Deuba was unable to effectively guide the party ahead of crucial upcoming elections. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, the two sides failed to reach a compromise, escalating the rift into a formal schism.
Gagan Thapa, reacting to his suspension, said, “Nepali Congress is not anyone’s private company. This is a party I have made history with, a party that has led movements.” His statement underscores the deep emotional and political stakes involved as the split threatens to reshape the party ahead of a turbulent election season.
As both factions consolidate their positions, the coming days are likely to see further political manoeuvring, with the Special General Convention faction preparing to announce a new working committee. The divide highlights not only generational tensions within the NC but also the growing influence of younger leaders—often referred to as the Gen Z political cohort—who have increasingly asserted themselves in party politics over the past year.
