Nepali Congress at Breaking Point: Deuba Faction Opens New Outpost, Warns of Split

The Nepali Congress, Nepal's oldest political party, is entering a critical phase of internal conflict as the faction led by former president Sher Bahadur Deuba has made a decisive move to challenge the current party leadership. Following a three-day meeting in Kathmandu, the Deuba group concluded that party president Gagan Thapa is not committed to party unity and officially inaugurated a new contact office in Chundevi, a public declaration of the intensifying power struggle within the party.

A New Outpost Signals Open Challenge

On Monday, July 6, former Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka opened the doors of the new Chundevi office, marking the beginning of an organized challenge to the leadership. Although the office is officially described as a preparation hub for the party's 15th General Convention, political analysts widely view it as a strategic outpost for the Deuba faction's growing dissent. The establishment of this separate contact office is interpreted not merely as an organizational measure but as a bold statement of the faction's readiness to part ways if the leadership fails to take initiative for unity.

Demands for Proportional Representation

The Deuba faction, joined by leaders from the Khadka faction, has issued a series of demands to ensure fairness across the party. They proposed merging the executive committees elected through the 14th General Convention and the Special General Convention to create a 'Convention of Unity.' Additionally, they called for expanding the Central Working Committee to include 111 members, accommodating representatives from the Koirala faction. The faction also demanded proportional representation for all factions in key committees, including the Disciplinary Committee, Election Committee, Active Membership Committee, and Investigation Committee. According to Khadka, the party leadership has shown no positive response to any of these proposals.

Warning of a Potential Split

Leaders aligned with Sher Bahadur Deuba have issued a stark warning: if the current leadership does not initiate a path toward unity, the faction may choose to part away from the Nepali Congress. The meeting concluded that consensus remains the primary goal for the party's future, but leaders noted that they would consider alternative options if a mutual agreement cannot be reached among the various internal groups. This ultimatum has placed Nepal's oldest party at a verge of a split, with the power struggle escalating into a more open organizational phase.

Leadership's Stance

In response to the growing dissent, General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has emphasized that no faction can remove him merely by issuing disciplinary orders. He confirmed that the Special General Convention will proceed, reinforcing the leadership's position despite the challenges posed by the Deuba faction. The clash between the two sides has brought the internal dynamics of the Nepali Congress to the forefront of national political discourse, highlighting the fragility of the party's unity.