Kathmandu, April 17 – The Supreme Court on Friday night endorsed the Election Commission’s decision to recognize the special general convention of the Nepali Congress. This ruling ensures the continuation of the official status of the group led by Gagan Thapa. The court presented four key grounds for legitimizing the party’s special general convention.
First, the term of the previous central committee had expired before the special convention. The party had extended this tenure until the end of Magh (mid-February), citing exceptional circumstances, but even this extended period elapsed. The Supreme Court considered the expiration of the central committee’s term as a primary basis for validating the special general convention.
Second, the then-existing central committee of the Nepali Congress was unable to hold a new, regular general convention. After failing to convene the scheduled convention within the stipulated time, Gagan Thapa’s faction demanded a special general convention instead. The Supreme Court regarded the inability to hold a regular convention and the subsequent adoption of a special convention as both legally and party statute compliant.
Third, the Deuba faction of the Nepali Congress had challenged the special convention. Krishna Prasad Paudel, the Chief Secretary responsible for administrative affairs at the party’s central office, filed a complaint with the Election Commission opposing the special general convention. However, the Election Commission regarded the complaint from the administrative official as an internal party dispute rather than an official matter, thereby dismissing it as a valid objection. The Supreme Court upheld the commission’s decision.
Fourth, following the special general convention, the committee led by Gagan Thapa received official recognition within the Nepali Congress. The party, under Thapa’s leadership, participated in the elections. The Supreme Court dismissed the writ petition filed by the Deuba faction on the grounds that the committee’s candidacy and activities under Thapa’s leadership had been validated through the electoral process.
