Distrust Grows Between Thapa and Khadka, Congress Unity Efforts Face Crisis

Internal tension in the Nepali Congress has increased after leader Purna Bahadur Khadka publicly said that he had not had any form of contact or dialogue with party president Gagan Thapa for 31 days. The statement has affected ongoing efforts to bring unity between the establishment and non-establishment sides of the party. Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma said he was surprised by Khadka’s remarks, claiming that a seven-point proposal for party unity had been sent to Khadka on Jestha 16 after being prepared in consultation with Thapa. Sharma also said he later met Khadka at his residence in Golfutar on Jestha 22 and discussed the proposal for about two and a half hours.

The dispute is linked to participation in the upcoming convention, updating active membership, and adjustment of central committee members from the rival side. Khadka has opposed pressure to update active membership in districts and has said that those who renewed or took new membership by Poush 10 should be ensured participation in the convention. The establishment side, however, says updated membership is mandatory for taking part in the convention process. The Congress schedule has fixed ward conventions from Bhadra 2 and the 15th central general convention from Asoj 16 to 19. Leaders from the rival side have demanded fair convention guarantees, participation in convention-related committees, and adjustment of former central members, while leaders close to Thapa say they do not want to bring people accused of misconduct, discipline violations or election sabotage into the central committee.