Debate Concludes in Supreme Court on Nepali Congress Legitimacy Dispute; Bishwoprakash Sharma Delivers Final Argument

April 17, Kathmandu – The hearing on the writ petition challenging the legitimacy of the Nepali Congress concluded today. The case was heard by Supreme Court Justices Sharanga Suvedi and Nripadhwaj Niraula, with proceedings having begun on Thursday. On Friday, lawyers from both the petitioner and respondent sides presented their arguments. Following the reply arguments, Nepali Congress Vice President Bishwoprakash Sharma delivered the final submission on behalf of the respondents. With the conclusion of the hearing, a decision is expected imminently.

In the last week of Poush (mid-January), a special general convention held at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, dissolved the executive committee led by Sher Bahadur Deuba, which had been elected at the 14th general convention. A new executive committee under the leadership of Gagan Thapa was elected during this special convention. The Election Commission recognized the legitimacy of the committee selected at this convention. Subsequently, Deuba and then acting chairperson of the previous executive committee, Purn Bahadur Khadka, challenged the Election Commission’s decision by petitioning the Supreme Court.