SC to decide NC Convention's fate

KATHMANDU, Aug 26: The Sher Bahadur Deuba faction of the Nepali Congress (NC) has filed a supplementary petition at the Supreme Court (SC) seeking an immediate halt to preparations for the party’s 15th General Convention. The petition was filed through a legal representative of former party president Deuba.

The Election Commission, party president Gagan Kumar Thapa, Vice President Bishwo Prakash Sharma and the central working committee elected by the special general convention have been named as defendants.

The petition claims that the central working committee led by Deuba, elected at the party’s 14th General Convention, remains the legitimate committee. It argues that the gathering held at the end of December last year was not a legitimate special general convention and that the leadership elected from it was therefore illegal and unconstitutional.

The Deuba faction has asked the court to issue an interim order immediately stopping all preparations for the general convention, including membership renewal and other administrative activities. It has also sought an order suspending all procedures being carried out under the election schedule published on August 18 and maintaining the status quo.

The Supreme Court had previously ruled on April 17 that the central working committee elected under the leadership of Thapa at the special general convention was the legitimate leadership of the Nepali Congress. The Election Commission had earlier recognised the Thapa led committee.

The Deuba faction subsequently filed a review petition, arguing that the Supreme Court’s decision violated the principle of natural justice. The dispute has now returned to the court after the Supreme Court agreed to hear the review petition.

While the review petition remains pending, the central working committee elected by the special general convention has decided to proceed with preparations for the 15th General Convention. The Deuba faction has approached the Supreme Court again, seeking to prevent implementation of that decision.

In its supplementary petition, the Deuba faction has accused the Thapa led committee of unilaterally distributing new party memberships, publishing an election schedule and altering the party’s organisational structure. It has asked the court to stop these activities.

The supplementary petition was registered on Tuesday by advocate Shravan Kumar Shrestha on behalf of the Deuba faction. The case has been scheduled for a hearing on September 11.

The Thapa led establishment faction maintains that the party must hold its 15th General Convention within December under the constitutional requirement governing political parties. It has therefore decided to begin the convention process from the second week of October.

If the Supreme Court issues an order in favour of Deuba’s faction, the convention process will be halted for the time being. If the court refuses to stop the process, preparations will continue.

That could leave the NC facing a deeper organisational crisis, with one faction potentially excluded from the convention or the party heading towards two parallel general conventions.