The Tamesis
January 15, 2026
kathmandu – The Nepali Congress, Nepal’s ancient major party, split for the third time since its establishment in 1950.
The first split took place in 1953 due to the fight between Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala and Matrika Prasad Koirala. In 2002, at the height of the Maoist insurgency, the party split again when then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba dissolved the House of Representatives, announced elections, and extended a state of emergency to quell the insurgency.
The party split for the third time on Wednesday as the internal power struggle between party president Deuba and two general secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma reached a breaking point.
After 54% of the elected delegates to the National Congress called for an extraordinary congress and submitted a petition to the party office in Sanepa on October 15, the actual power struggle began, ultimately leading to the split in the party ahead of the March elections.
When Duuba’s establishment refused to call a special congress and call the party’s 15th congress ahead of the March elections, Thapa and Sharma launched the call themselves.
Thapa and Sharma called for an extraordinary convention on Sunday to elect a new party leadership after repeated negotiations and efforts to find a “win-win” solution failed. When secret talks, including a meeting between Deuba, Thapa and Sharma, broke down on Wednesday, both sides decided to stick to their respective positions.
The Deuba faction convened a meeting of the party’s central working committee on Wednesday to take action against Thapa and Sharma after the process of electing a new leadership reached a point of no return.
Sharma submitted an eight-point proposal to the committee in which he would offer reconciliation if certain issues, including Deuba’s ouster, were resolved. However, out of the five points considered, the central working committee rejected three, including Deuba’s resignation. In a meeting chaired by Acting Chairman Pune Bahadur Khadka, the committee decided to take disciplinary action against Thapa and Sharma, which would include stripping them of their party membership.
The Nepali Congress split for the third time as Thapa, Sharma and joint general secretary Famullah Munsur were suspended from the party for five years.
A new political and legal battle has also begun, casting doubt on the March 5 parliamentary elections.
The Thapa-Sharma camp has approached the Election Commission claiming that their special convention granted them official party status with the support of a majority of the elected representatives. Meanwhile, the Deuba faction also informed the committee about the Central Working Committee’s decision to remove Thapa, Sharma and Mansoor.
Thapa claimed that the Central Working Committee headed by Deuba had been dissolved and therefore the decisions of the committee were invalid.
Addressing a special general meeting soon after the “disciplinary action” against him was announced, Thapa said the Election Commission will now form a new central working committee. He emphasized that Congress is not someone’s “private company.”
Meanwhile, the extraordinary assembly has begun the process of electing Thapa as the new president. The demand has been raised many times by supporters of the special convention, arguing that the party cannot move forward under Deuba’s leadership.
Thapa urged people not to worry about his and Sharma’s political future, saying: “There is no need to worry about us. We are ready to take risks to bring reforms to the party.”
Thapa said the party flag and tree emblem will remain in the Nepali Congress and will be controlled by the central working committee formed by the special congress. He added that the constitution and law recognize the Central Working Committee elected through a special congress.
With both parties already approaching the Electoral Commission – which is under pressure over the March elections – any decision is likely to be challenged in the Supreme Court by camps that failed to gain approval from the commission.
Speaking at the conference hall, Thapa said: “This extraordinary assembly is held on the basis of faith in the constitution and law. Whatever decision is taken in this extraordinary assembly, the constitution will recognize it. The election commission will also recognize it.”
Likewise, Secretary General Sharma commented that this was the first time in his life that he faced disciplinary action. Reacting to the Deuba faction’s decision, Sharma claimed that he was being punished for trying to run the Congress in line with changing times.
“What kind of action is this for the position I’ve left?” he asked. “I cease to be general secretary as of this morning, so there is no question of action [against me]”.
He further claimed that as per the party rules, BP Koirala assumed leadership of the party through a special congress in 1950 and the purpose of the current congress is to bring about similar changes.
Political analyst Shri Krishna Anirudh Gautam said a legal battle has begun within the Congress since Wednesday. “Both sides will seek legitimacy,” he said. “Those who are not recognized will go to court. So the process will continue and could impact the March election.”
He said he did not believe the electoral commission would resolve the congressional dispute within a week. The committee has set January 19 to submit nominations for the first-past-the-post electoral system.
Action taken but no clarification provided
The Deuba Central Committee took disciplinary action against Thapa, Sharma and Mansoor without completing the procedures stipulated in the party constitution. No one was given the opportunity to provide clarification or defense as required by the party constitution before taking action.
The commission said the action was taken under Article 34, paragraph 1, of the party constitution, which deals with disciplinary sanctions. Article 34 contains provisions related to discipline, listing four clauses to define what constitutes a breach of discipline.
The article points out that any activity that violates the Party’s ideals, principles, and policies; violates the Party’s laws and regulations; or violates the Party’s behavioral norms will be deemed a disciplinary violation.
Likewise, standing as a candidate against an official candidate of the party or a candidate supported by the party, proposing or supporting such a candidate, or directly or indirectly opposing or failing to cooperate with a candidate of the party during an election is also considered a violation of discipline.
Likewise, causing direct or indirect harm or loss to the person concerned, engaging in any activity, behavior, behavior or speech that damages the character of others, harms personal or social dignity, damages reputation, spreads hatred or resentment or adversely affects the harmony of the community, is also considered to be a violation of the discipline prescribed by law.
