A faction of the Nepali Congress party led by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba held a rival gathering in Kathmandu on March 30, 2026, intensifying a long-running internal rift. The event, termed a "general convention" by the group, was attended by hundreds of supporters and leaders, including senior figures like General Secretary Gagan Thapa and former minister Bimalendra Nidhi.
The move directly challenges the party's establishment led by President Ram Chandra Paudel and Acting President Krishna Prasad Sitaula. The Deuba faction accuses the party leadership of failing to hold a timely national convention and of making unilateral decisions, allegations the central leadership denies.
This public split comes as the Nepali Congress, the country's main opposition, prepares for its 14th National Convention, which has been repeatedly postponed. The deepening division threatens the party's cohesion ahead of future elections and could impact the stability of Nepal's coalition government.
Political analysts note the factionalism stems from a prolonged power struggle and ideological differences within the party. The central committee has condemned the rival meeting as an anti-party activity, signaling potential disciplinary action against the participating leaders.
