KATHMANDU, Dec 23: The anti-establishment faction that emerged during the Nepali Congress (NC)’s 14th General Convention is heading toward a split as the party moves closer to its next convention, signaling fresh turbulence within the country’s oldest democratic party.
The rival camp had been consolidated under the leadership of Shekhar Koirala to challenge the establishment faction led by party President Sher Bahadur Deuba at the 14th General Convention. While the group managed to secure key positions—including general secretary and joint general secretary—the unity forged during the convention now appears increasingly fragile ahead of the 15th General Convention.
Shekhar Koirala, who led the anti-establishment camp and contested the party presidency at the 14th General Convention, has repeatedly stated that he will again seek the top post at the upcoming convention. However, a clear fault line has emerged after Gagan Kumar Thapa—elected general secretary from the same camp—announced his intention to run for party president.
Thapa made the announcement while interacting with party leaders and cadres from Kathmandu Constituency-4, from where he was elected. “I am a candidate for party president at the 15th General Convention,” he said. “I want to become the party president.”
Koirala, meanwhile, has also intensified outreach efforts, holding meetings with party leaders and cadres after earlier signaling his intention to contest again.
According to close aides, following the November 2022 general election, an understanding had been reached ahead of the parliamentary party election on December 19 under which Koirala would propose Thapa as parliamentary party leader, while Thapa would back Koirala’s bid for the party presidency at the 15th General Convention. That understanding now appears to be unraveling.
Growing aspirations
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It is almost certain that the NC’s 15th General Convention, initially scheduled to begin in Kathmandu on January 10, will not be held on that date. Party President Deuba and other office-bearers are expected to agree on a new timeline, with the revised date to be set by an upcoming Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting.
Even as the convention date remains uncertain, NC leaders have begun reaching out to party cadres across the country, positioning themselves for leadership roles, including the party presidency and other key posts.
Until nominations are filed, alliances remain fluid. More than two dozen leaders have expressed interest in contesting for positions, including party president, two vice presidents, general secretary, and eight joint general secretaries. Nearly a dozen leaders are said to be preparing for a presidential run alone, though none has formally declared candidacy so far.
The party is also grappling with delays in distributing active membership—the backbone of the general convention process. With the House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for March 5, questions have been raised over whether the NC can complete its general convention before the polls.
Just as uncertainty looms over the convention, doubts persist over whether the March 5 election will be held as scheduled.
Under the party statute, incumbent President Deuba is barred from seeking another term. After handing over acting party leadership to Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka following the unrest on September 8 and 9, Deuba has largely stepped back from active party politics. He had earlier announced in Chitwan that he would not contest the leadership again.
The 15th General Convention is therefore expected to usher in new leadership. Given the NC’s long democratic legacy, aspirations for top leadership are unsurprising. Those seen as presidential aspirants include Shekhar Koirala, Acting President Khadka, former vice presidents Gopal Man Shrestha, Bimalendra Nidhi, and Prakash Man Singh, as well as former general secretaries Shashank Koirala and Krishna Prasad Sitaula.
Shekhar Koirala, Nidhi, and Singh had contested the presidency at the 14th General Convention, while Sitaula had done so at the 13th.
Following the death of the then party president Sushil Koirala on the eve of the 13th General Convention, Ram Chandra Paudel had contested the presidency representing the establishment faction. At the time, Sitaula had fielded Thapa as a candidate for general secretary.
By the 14th General Convention, Thapa had shifted camps and won the general secretary post from the Shekhar Koirala faction. His announcement to contest the presidency at the next convention has now reshaped the internal contest.
Chandra Bhandari, who contested the vice presidency at the 14th General Convention, has also expressed interest in the top post, saying he will decide after consultations. CWC member Kalyan Gurung has already announced his candidacy, having also contested in the previous convention.
No formal contenders have yet emerged for the two vice-presidential posts, though General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma is widely viewed as a natural candidate. Former aspirants Bal Krishna Khand and NP Saud are also being closely watched.
Former general secretary candidates Minendra Rijal and Prakash Sharan Mahat have yet to decide whether they will again seek the same post or contest for vice president. Pradeep Paudel, along with joint general secretaries Badri Pandey, Mahalaxmi Upadhyay, and Bhishma Raj Angdembe, are also eyeing the general secretary position.
Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and CWC members Gururaj Ghimire, Nain Singh Mahar, and Kundan Raj Kafle have begun positioning themselves as general secretary contenders. CWC member Arzu Rana Deuba, wife of party president Deuba, has also expressed interest in an office-bearer position.
Several incumbent joint general secretaries—including Dila Sangraula, Yogendra Chaudhary, Prakash Rasaili, and Sunil Sharma—are likely to seek re-election. Sharma has said he will contest for joint general secretary and, failing that, for general secretary.
Under the NC statute, elections are held for all office-bearer positions except treasurer.
Meanwhile, NC President Deuba and CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli held talks on Monday. With national politics becoming increasingly fluid, the meeting at Deuba’s Maharajgunj residence reportedly focused on HoR reinstatement and the upcoming National Assembly election.
Oli visited Deuba after being elected party chair at the UML’s 11th General Convention, accompanied by newly elected General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel.
