The internal rift within the Nepali Congress has deepened as the faction led by former President Sher Bahadur Deuba formally opposed holding a regular general convention until the Supreme Court resolves the ongoing dispute over party legitimacy. This stance was voiced by leader Shyam Kumar Ghimire on Tuesday, coinciding with the release of the convention schedule by the current Central Working Committee elected through the special general convention.
Ghimire, a former Member of Parliament, argued that proceeding with a national convention while the party's official status remains sub-judice is strategically and legally unsound. He emphasized that the party must wait for the judiciary's final word on which side holds official authority before embarking on a leadership transition. According to Ghimire, the only viable path forward is for both sides to eventually unite under the leadership validated by the court's upcoming decision.
The Deuba camp also directed sharp criticism toward the Supreme Court for its perceived delays in high-profile cases. Ghimire urged the judiciary to fulfill its constitutional duty by providing a swift verdict to end the prevailing uncertainty. He cited previous instances, including disputes involving the JSP and parliamentary reinstatement, where delayed rulings allegedly eroded public trust in the judicial institution.
Furthermore, the faction cautioned that sidelining Deuba's influence would have dire electoral consequences. Ghimire attributed the party's recent underwhelming performance in the polls to the marginalization of the former president’s group. The focus now shifts to whether the judiciary will expedite the case or if the current committee will proceed with its proposed timeline despite the internal pushback.
