Gagan Thapa ‘Elected Nepali Congress President' during Special Convention as the Party Heads Towards a Split

The special general convention convened by the rival faction of the Nepali Congress has elected Gagan Kumar Thapa as party president, a move rejected by the establishment faction led by Sher Bahadur Deuba, signaling the split of the grand old party.

Sitaram KC, coordinator of the Central Election Committee formed by the rival faction, told the state-run national news agency RSS on Thursday morning that Thapa was elected unopposed at the second special general convention, saying he was the sole candidate for the post.

Addressing leaders, cadres and supporters after his election, Thapa said he would work to restore the dignity of the party and rebuild public trust.

“With the responsibility you have entrusted me with, I will uphold the dignity of the Nepali Congress and ensure that every member feels proud to belong to this party,” RSS quoted Thapa as saying. He added that the party must stand with citizens in difficult times.

The special convention was convened by the faction led by Thapa and General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma, which has been challenging the authority of party president Sher Bahadur Deuba. The rival camp had been demanding an early general convention ahead of the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, arguing that the party needs reform, introspection and leadership change following the Gen Z protests in September.

The Deuba-led establishment faction rejected calls for an early general convention and announced that it would be held only after the elections, a move widely seen as an attempt to retain control over ticket distribution. In response, the Thapa–Sharma camp initiated a campaign to hold a special general convention, claiming the backing of a majority of general convention delegates.

As the rift between the two factions widened, the Deuba-led Central Working Committee on Wednesday took disciplinary action, expelling Thapa, Sharma and Joint General Secretary Farmullah Mansoor for five years for defying party decisions and organizing what it termed parallel party activities.

The rival faction, however, has rejected the disciplinary action, insisting that the special convention is legitimate and that it represents the majority within the party. Thapa has argued that the Deuba-led executive committee has effectively lost legitimacy and that the Election Commission should recognize the leadership elected through the special convention.

With Thapa’s election as president, the Nepali Congress now faces an unprecedented leadership crisis, with two rival groups preparing to stake official claims at the Election Commission. The possibility of legal battles, including a potential case at the Supreme Court, remains open.

While a formal split has yet to be announced, the deepening division comes at a sensitive time, just weeks ahead of the parliamentary elections, raising concerns that internal discord could weaken the party’s electoral prospects.

The Nepali Congress has faced a similar rupture in the past. In 2002, Sher Bahadur Deuba split the party to form Nepali Congress (Democratic) following disciplinary action against him, before the two factions reunited after the 2006 People’s Movement.