KATHMANDU, Aug 6: "Self-interest, communalism, personality cults and an outward-looking mindset dominate the country today. In such a situation, the first casualty is nationalism. Our struggle was once only for democratic rights. Today, it has a new dimension: protecting the nation's very existence."
These were the words of one of the founding leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC), BP Koirala, before returning to Nepal in 1976 with his policy of national reconciliation.
Only a week ago, as communal tensions escalated in Kaptanganj of Sunsari's Dewanganj Municipality, Nepal appeared to be drifting toward the kind of religious and social division BP had warned against. Restraint shown by the government, political parties and local communities ultimately prevented the unrest from spiralling further.
Ironically, the NC, founded by BP and other leaders who championed unity and coexistence, now finds itself confronting one of the most serious crises in its history. The conflict is driven neither by ideology nor policy, but by personal ambition, ego and factional interests that have pushed the party to the brink of yet another split.
Founded in 1947 to overthrow the Rana regime, the NC evolved into the country's leading democratic force by adapting to changing public aspirations. Although Nepal already had the Praja Parishad before the NCs was formed, many early political parties faded because they revolved around individuals rather than enduring principles.
Dr Shekhar Koirala distances himself from factional politics, c...
NC leaders know well what happened to the once-dominant Indian National Congress and many other long-ruling democratic parties around the world. Yet they appear unwilling to learn from those experiences. Public frustration, which surfaced during last year's Gen Z movement, has deepened, while the party's internal crisis has intensified following the Special General Convention. Both the Election Commission and the Supreme Court have recognised the convention's leadership as legitimate, making reconciliation even more difficult.
The legally recognised leadership has shown little willingness to accommodate senior leaders who stayed away from the convention. Conversely, the rival faction also appears reluctant to accept the democratic process. One side enjoys legal legitimacy but lacks the support of many veteran leaders. The other commands political legacy and experience but lacks legal standing and has struggled to inspire younger supporters.
Both camps appear more interested in protecting their own power than saving the party. As a result, concerns are growing that the party which led Nepal's democratic, political and social transformations for decades could itself become history.
With reconciliation efforts stalled, the dissident faction has begun preparations for a national gathering under former general secretary Shashank Koirala, son of BP Koirala. Senior leaders, including Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakash Man Singh, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Purna Bahadur Khadka, Shekhar Koirala, Prakash Sharan Mahat and NP Saud, are reportedly backing the initiative.
Even leaders close to Dr Shekhar Koirala remain divided. The establishment has until August 13 to induct the remaining 111 central committee members left out after the 14th General Convention. If that does not happen, the dissident faction is expected to move forward with plans to form a new party.
The establishment insists it cannot appoint all 111 members because the party statute allows only 40 nominations. It argues that inducting all 111 would give the dissident camp nearly 40 percent representation, enough to legally split the party. The rival faction, however, insists that all 111 members must be accommodated.
As a compromise, Dr Shekhar Koirala proposed forming a Preparatory Committee for the 15th General Convention if consensus on restructuring the central committee proved impossible. However, other dissident leaders rejected the proposal, expressing little confidence that the establishment would honour such a commitment. They accuse the leadership of pushing both the party and the country into deeper uncertainty at a time of mounting national challenges.
The prolonged deadlock has left both camps preparing to pursue separate political paths. Whether either faction can survive independently remains uncertain.
The damage is already becoming evident. In the House of Representatives by-election held after the Gen Z protests, the NC lost a significant share of its traditional support. The party has failed to connect with younger voters while simultaneously losing the confidence of many older supporters. It has struggled to regain the trust of urban voters and has also failed to reassure people in rural and remote areas.
Public frustration is no longer directed only at individual leaders. Increasingly, voters are questioning the political culture itself. Many had hoped the NC would reform in line with changing public expectations. Instead, its leaders appear more focused on controlling the party than rebuilding public trust.
Factional conflict has repeatedly weakened not only the NC but also Nepal's democratic system. Leadership disputes date back to the party's earliest years. The conflict between BP Koirala and Matrika Prasad Koirala in the early 1950s delayed Nepal's aspiration for a constitution drafted by an elected Constituent Assembly for decades.
Later, differences emerged between BP Koirala and Subarna Shamsher Rana, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala, and eventually between Sher Bahadur Deuba and Girija Prasad Koirala. Earlier generations, however, ultimately placed the party's larger interests above personal ambition. Leaders who once stood divided, including Girija Prasad Koirala and Deuba, eventually reunited, enabling the NC to lead the peace process, abolish the monarchy, oversee the second Constituent Assembly election and promulgate the Constitution in 2015.
Even today, many party leaders are urging the top leadership to find common ground. Former central committee member Nainsingh Mahar has said he and others are prepared to relinquish their positions if doing so helps preserve party unity. National Assembly member Ranjit Karna has likewise called on both factions to step back and rebuild a united NC.
Whether the leadership chooses unity over self-interest may determine not only the future of the NC but also the strength of Nepal's democratic politics.
