Ahead of the elections on March 5, Nepali Congress–the largest party in the dissolved House of Representatives–is on the verge of a split. This week, the Special General Convention was organised by the two General Secretaries of the party, Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, to choose a new party leadership, while the establishment faction led by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has disowned the convention.
Both factions have approached the Election Commission, claiming to be the authentic party. After the Special Convention chose Gagan Kumar Thapa as the new party President, the elected committee presented itself before the Commission, claiming a leadership change. The establishment faction, however, has told the Commission that about 800 of the convention representatives who had earlier signed for the Special Convention withdrew their signatures. The party constitution requires the signature of at least 40 per cent convention representatives to call for a Special Convention.
