Clarification Case Intensifies Conflict Within Nepali Congress

April 15, Kathmandu – Internal conflicts within the Nepali Congress have intensified, with disciplinary actions and questions over leadership legitimacy escalating tensions, inching the party towards division.

On one side, the Central Disciplinary Committee has summoned outgoing acting chairman Purn Bahadur Khadka for a seven-day clarification; on the other, Khadka has rejected the committee’s move, deeming it ‘illegal.’

At a meeting held on Thursday, the Central Disciplinary Committee accused Khadka of creating a fake party letterhead to issue an unauthorized press release and decided to demand a clarification within seven days.

Khadka described the decision as ‘ridiculous, pointless, and meaningless,’ even going as far as to claim the special convention-elected committee is itself unlawful.

He also asserted that he used an authentic letterhead, basing his claim on the ongoing party authority dispute before the Supreme Court.

The disciplinary committee has asked Khadka to present a clarification within seven days under Article 34, Subsection 8 (g) of the party constitution, citing his unauthorized release of a press statement.

Khadka, however, dismissed the demand as absurd.

‘A clarification demand from an illegal convention and a committee elected unlawfully is laughable,’ Khadka stated.

Earlier, on Chaitra 18 (April 1), the disciplinary committee decided to proceed with disciplinary actions based on Khadka’s statements.

Khadka had issued a press release on Chaitra 14 (March 28), in his capacity as acting chairman, protesting the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

On Chaitra 17 (March 31), he convened a meeting of the central working committee elected from the 14th general convention, holding discussions over two days.

Challenging the disciplinary committee’s move, Khadka issued another statement on Chaitra 30 (April 13), objecting to the annulment of the party’s active membership.

He had used the party letterhead in his capacity as acting chairman to express the stance of another faction.

‘Party membership nurtured during the autocratic Panchayat regime when Nepali Congress was banned cannot be revoked by anyone’s speech,’ he emphasized.

Following the decision to update all active memberships from the 14th general convention, party President Gagan Kumar Thapa announced membership cancellations a few days prior.

‘We have annulled all active memberships based on decisions of the old central committee,’ Thapa said during a Madhesh Province election review on Chaitra 25 (April 8).

After Khadka’s press release, the Congress convened the Central Disciplinary Committee, which on Wednesday decided to seek clarification from him.

The party’s call for a clarification within seven days signals a deepening polarization in the Nepali Congress. Yet, the establishment faction insists it is not interested in complicating the situation.

General Secretary Pradeep Paudel said, ‘We are not trying to create complications. We are working to move forward by including everyone as much as possible.’

He suggested the clarification process may be related to some fundamental issues that cannot be taken lightly.

‘There are basic matters that cannot be seen as ordinary; hence the clarification process has possibly come up,’ Paudel remarked.

He added that the disciplinary committee’s investigation and situational analysis provided the basis for advancing the action.

‘The clarification process is a procedural step the disciplinary committee must undertake, likely initiated after studying the subject thoroughly,’ he explained.

Paudel also clarified that disciplinary matters are complex procedural issues.

‘When someone acts within the party, seeking clarification is natural; it is part of the procedure,’ he added.

Khadka has declared the special general convention held last Poush (December) as illegal, considering the Election Commission’s decision contradictory to the Nepali Congress constitution, Nepal’s constitution, and other party-related laws.

In a statement on Monday, he said, ‘This appears to undermine not only the Nepali Congress but the party system in Nepal as a whole.’ He also confirmed filing a petition in the Supreme Court seeking judicial review on this matter.

Before the special convention, the Central Executive Committee chaired by Khadka on Poush 18 (January 1) had unanimously resolved to hold the 15th general convention from Baisakh 28-31 (May 11-14).

However, the scheduled convention could not take place on time. The establishment faction had divergent opinions from the general secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa’s group following both the House of Representatives election and the upcoming convention.

Seeing the regular convention was unlikely, Thapa’s group ultimately organized the special convention in the last week of Poush (December).

The special convention dismissed the central working committee elected from the 14th general convention and selected a new committee led by Thapa.

Following the House of Representatives election, party President Thapa decided at a central committee meeting on Chaitra 11 (March 24) to hold the 15th general convention from Ashwin 16-19 (September 2-5) next year. Except for the establishment faction, other groups remain dissatisfied with this schedule.

President Thapa Assigned Responsibility to Engage Dissatisfied Factions

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has assigned party president Gagan Kumar Thapa the task of holding dialogue with the dissatisfied factions within the party.

This responsibility was entrusted to Thapa by the Central Executive Committee at a meeting held after the disciplinary committee meeting on Wednesday.

‘We have tasked President Thapa with dialogue to ensure the 15th general convention is held promptly and professionally without disruptions caused by dissenting factions,’ spokesperson Devaraj Chalise stated following the meeting.

In this process, Thapa will engage influential leaders, former office bearers, and key party figures.

‘It is essential for the party to negotiate with all factions to conduct the general convention on time,’ he added.