Kathmandu, Aug 26: The Nepali Congress’ 15th General Convention has become a legal battle after the Sher Bahadur Deuba faction moved the Supreme Court seeking an immediate halt to preparations.
The supplementary petition, filed on Tuesday through advocate Shravan Kumar Shrestha, names the Election Commission, NC President Gagan Kumar Thapa, Vice President Bishwo Prakash Sharma and the central working committee elected by the special general convention as defendants.
The Deuba faction argues that the central committee elected under Deuba at the 14th General Convention remains the legitimate party leadership. It has challenged the special general convention held in December, claiming it was merely a gathering and that the leadership elected from it was illegal and unconstitutional.
The faction has sought an interim order stopping membership renewal, administrative activities and all preparations for the 15th General Convention under the election schedule published on August 18.
The Supreme Court had ruled on April 17 that the Thapa led central committee elected by the special general convention was the legitimate NC leadership. The Election Commission had also recognised the committee. Deuba’s faction later sought a review, arguing that the ruling violated natural justice. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the review, but the case remains unresolved.
Meanwhile, the Thapa led committee has moved ahead with preparations for the 15th General Convention. Deuba’s latest petition challenges those moves, including new membership distribution, the election schedule and changes to the party structure.
The court has scheduled the petition for September 11.
The Thapa faction says the convention must be held within December under constitutional requirements and has decided to begin the process in the second week of October.
The Supreme Court’s decision could determine whether the convention proceeds as planned. If the court grants Deuba’s request, preparations will stop. If it refuses, the process will continue, potentially deepening the NC’s split and raising the prospect of rival or parallel conventions.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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