Nepali Congress faces leadership rift amid Supreme Court review

The Nepali Congress is facing a deepening internal crisis as rival factions clash over the legitimacy of the party's leadership and the upcoming 15th General Convention. The dispute has escalated into a legal battle following a Supreme Court decision to allow a review of an earlier verdict regarding the party's official status.

One faction, aligned with President Sher Bahadur Deuba, has filed a writ petition seeking to halt the convention process. They argue that leaders pushing for the special convention are attempting to unilaterally influence judicial proceedings and exert pressure on the Supreme Court while the case is sub-judice. Leaders within this group have accused rivals, including Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma, of spreading misinformation and making misleading statements.

Conversely, the faction supporting the convention process maintains that the Central Working Committee's decision to proceed with ward-level conventions, scheduled for September 9, is necessary. Despite calls from opposing members, such as former vice-president Purna Bahadur Khadka, to pause all activities until the court delivers a final verdict, the convention preparations continue. Efforts to resolve the rift through dialogue have reportedly seen little substantive progress.