Purnabahadur Challenges Gagan’s Warning; Shekhar Actively Pursues Moderate Initiatives Amidst Nepali Congress Turmoil

March 13, Kathmandu: With the Supreme Court currently deliberating on the party’s official legitimacy case, internal disputes within the Nepali Congress have escalated sharply. Tensions are rising among non-establishment factions amid warnings that actions violating party bylaws will invite disciplinary measures.

Defying earlier warnings from the Central Discipline Committee, outgoing Acting President Purnabahadur Khadka continues to assert his role. On Monday, in his capacity as Acting President, he used the party letterhead to publicly communicate the stance of another faction regarding party membership.

“No leader should cancel party membership obtained by risking lives during the era when Nepali Congress was banned under the autocratic Panchayat regime, based on any impulse, provocation, or rash speech,” Khadka stated.

Regarding the decision by the Central Working Committee to update all active memberships derived from the 14th General Convention, party President Gagan Kumar Thapa had recently announced the cancellation of active memberships.

“All active memberships were cancelled based on the previous committee’s decision,” he said at the Madhesh Province-level election review event on March 9. “There are no active members now.”

Nepali Congress has decided that only those who update their membership during the upcoming one-month ‘pay the fine’ campaign starting April 14 will be eligible to participate in the 15th General Convention.

Non-establishment factions have strongly opposed this decision, viewing the requirement to update membership to attend the convention as illegal, biased, and unacceptable.

“Active membership represents more than just an individual’s affiliation with the party; it embodies the historical contribution and continuity within the party,” Khadka said, emphasizing only the General Convention can legally revoke active membership.

However, on Monday, General Secretaries Pradeep Paudel and Guru Raj Ghimire clarified through Facebook that active memberships are not being cancelled but updated through an organized process.

They urged all active members to renew their memberships promptly and encouraged new members to join, emphasizing an active role in strengthening the organization.

Earlier, on March 28, Khadka protested government arrests of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak through a statement issued as Acting President.

Following the Election Commission’s conferral of authority to the Central Working Committee elected via the special General Convention, Khadka publicly expressed the party’s position for the first time in his acting role.

Khadka’s active assertion of his role soon sparked anger from the establishment faction.

At the Central Discipline Committee meeting on March 18, Khadka was warned of possible disciplinary action if he continued to issue statements as Acting President.

After Khadka convened a meeting of the Central Working Committee elected at the 14th General Convention on March 17, the Central Discipline Committee condemned his use of a counterfeit party letterhead and unauthorized statements, cautioning him accordingly.

“Any individual committing such acts henceforth will face disciplinary proceedings as outlined by the Nepali Congress Bylaws 2017 (amended) and applicable Nepalese law,” said the statement issued post-meeting.

Nonetheless, Khadka defied the warning by issuing another statement on Monday, intensifying the party’s crisis.

He has referred to the special General Convention held last January as merely a so-called convention.

Khadka contends the Election Commission’s recognition of the committee formed via the special convention under the guise of updating membership violates party rules, Nepal’s constitution, and electoral laws.

“This not only undermines Nepali Congress but threatens the broader party system of Nepal,” Khadka asserted, noting that he has filed a writ in the Supreme Court where the case remains under consideration.

With the court still deliberating on party legitimacy issues, Khadka’s public cancellation of membership renewal for the 15th General Convention took many by surprise and caused serious concern.

Despite intra-party upheavals, Khadka emphasizes patience and adherence to the bylaws as the party prepares the renewal and facilitating membership for those left out, with the aim to hold the 15th Convention smoothly.

Prior to this, a Central Executive Committee meeting chaired by Khadka on December 2 had unanimously approved the schedule for the 15th General Convention slated for October 15-18.

However, the floor convention could not take place on time due to disagreements from then establishment and Thapa groups post the general elections.

As the Thapa group saw no possibility of a regular convention, they convened a special General Convention late January.

The special convention at Bhrikuti Mandap dissolved the committee elected through the 14th General Convention and appointed a new one led by Thapa.

Subsequently, President Thapa’s March 25 Central Working Committee meeting decided to hold the 15th General Convention next year in mid-September; the schedule faced objections from non-establishment factions.

Disciplinary Committee Scheduled Following Khadka’s Statement

Immediately after Khadka’s statement as Acting President, the party summoned a meeting of the Central Discipline Committee.

According to a notice issued by Secretary Dinesh Thapamagar from the Central Office, the meeting is scheduled for April 15 at 11 am, though the agenda remains undisclosed. Committee coordinator Taraman Gurung declined to comment on the agenda before the meeting.

“Until the meeting is held, I cannot comment on the agenda or decisions,” he said. “It is not my habit to discuss things prematurely.”

Shekhar’s Moderate Initiative

Amid escalating disputes, Dr. Shekhar Koirala, leading a separate ideological faction, has taken an active role in seeking middle-ground solutions within the party.

Opposed to the special General Convention at Bhrikuti Mandap, Koirala has initiated dialogues to foster agreement between the establishment and other groups. He firmly opposes any party split and has tasked close aides with facilitating talks between factions.

According to his associates, Koirala assigned former Deputy General Secretary Badri Pandey and Jivan Pariyar to engage with the committee formed at the special General Convention.

Likewise, Dr. Minendra Rizal and Dr. Govindraj Pokharel were given responsibility to communicate with Khadka’s faction.

On April 7, Koirala convened his close leaders at the Bishalnagar contact office and allocated these responsibilities during discussions focused on resolving the party conflict.

Present at Bishalnagar were also Dinesh Koirala, Tek Prasad Gurung, Sanjay Kumar Gautam, and Rajiv Koirala, as well as former General Secretary Dr. Shashank Koirala and Member of Parliament Urmila Thapaliya.

Koirala’s office has confirmed the dialogue efforts and division of responsibilities among leaders.

Sources indicate Koirala supports party unity until the court verdict is announced, urging members to set aside personal ego and prevent further damage. “Dr. Koirala believes no internal fighting should continue,” a leader told, “he calls for unity before the court’s decision.”

Following this, leaders Rizal and Pokharel consulted with N.P. Saud, trusted by outgoing President Sher Bahadur Deuba; similarly, Pandey and Pariyar held discussions with General Secretary Guru Ghimire and attempted to arrange talks with President Thapa.

“There have been talks with NPG on the Deuba side and Guruji on the special faction side. An attempt to meet with Gagan Thapa was reportedly refused,” sources disclosed. “Purnabahadur’s faction is not interested in reconciliation before the court ruling, and the special faction is unwilling to engage either. Both groups are moving on divergent paths.”

Youth Leaders Pressuring for Resolution

Young leaders within Nepali Congress are actively pushing for conflict resolution to enable a united front going into the 15th General Convention.

Leaders from the establishment, Deuba’s faction, and Koirala’s group held a collective discussion on Sunday to explore consensus-driven solutions. Attendees at the Anamnagar meeting included outgoing Central Committee members Nainsingh Mahar, Pratima Gautam, Umesh Jung Rayamajhi, Pushpa Parajuli, Manojmani Acharya, Binod Kayastha, and Nirmala Kshetri.

Other participants included Balchandra Nyaupane, Anjan Lama, Badri Aryal, Lekhnath Nyaupane, Saroj Thapa, and Pushpakumar Shah.

The group resolved to initiate dialogues with all factions and undertake pressure-oriented programs to push for party strengthening and unity.

“We are engaging in discussions across the country to promote reform, unity, and strengthen the party,” stated leader Mahar.

Central Committee member Pratima Gautam also confirmed a unanimous focus on moving toward a regular general convention. “We have talked about how to proceed with holding a regular convention,” she said.