Nepali Congress factions meet to strategize amid internal party disputes

Kathmandu. A meeting between the Sher Bahadur Deuba and Dr. Shekhar Koirala factions of the Nepali Congress has concluded, focusing on the House of Representatives elections and the group's future strategy.

The meeting, held on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Smart Hotel in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, concluded that certain elements held a special general convention contrary to the party statute with the intent to weaken the party. However, as the meeting was informal, no official decisions were made. 

At the conclusion of the meeting, outgoing acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka stated that the Congress was strategically weakened to facilitate the Rastriya Swatantra Party in securing a near two-thirds majority. He also noted that elements aiming to further weaken the Congress remain active. 

Another leader, Dr. Shekhar Koirala, claimed that certain forces are working to destroy Nepal and that some Congress leaders have been used in the process. He alleged that the leaders being used include both supporters of the special general convention and the regular general convention. 

The leaders reviewed the House of Representatives elections during the meeting. 

'Some party leaders played a supporting role in bringing the RSVP closer to two-thirds'

During the meeting, former vice-president Bimalendra Nidhi stated that although they participated in the elections, they did not recognize Gagan Thapa as the party president. 

Leaders stated that the informal meeting also determined the group's future strategy. They expressed intentions to advocate for a favorable outcome regarding the writ petition filed against the special general convention, which is currently pending in the Supreme Court.

The Deuba-Koirala faction has a hearing scheduled for Chaitra 22 regarding the writ petition filed in the Supreme Court, in which they claim to be the legitimate leadership. 

The group is preparing to determine further strategies after that. Members stated that they would strongly oppose any illegal activities conducted by the leadership that emerged from the illegitimate special general convention. Leaders also emphasized the need to strongly oppose the decision to caution Khadka for the alleged misuse of the party's letterhead and a non-existent position.