KATHMANDU — Just one day after receiving official recognition of their leadership from the Election Commission, the newly elected President of the Nepali Congress, Gagan Kumar Thapa, and Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma met with outgoing President Sher Bahadur Deuba. The meeting, held Saturday afternoon at Deuba’s residence in Maharajgunj, is being closely watched amid the ongoing power struggle and recent polarization within the party.
On Friday, the Election Commission decided to update the Nepali Congress records, formally recognizing the new Central Committee elected through the Special General Convention led by Gagan Thapa. This decision cleared the legal path for Thapa to assume the statutory leadership of the party. Immediately after the 134-member executive committee gained legal status, President Thapa initiated high-level dialogues, starting with this first formal meeting with Deuba.
The meeting follows a week of intense political drama that began last Wednesday when the former establishment faction, led by Deuba, announced disciplinary action purporting to expel Gagan Thapa, Bishwa Prakash Sharma, and Farmullah Mansur from the party for five years. However, defying the expulsion that same night, the closed session of the Special General Convention elected Thapa as the new President by an overwhelming majority. The Election Commission’s subsequent recognition of Thapa’s committee on Friday marked a significant shift in the country's political landscape.
Newly appointed spokesperson Devraj Chalise described the meeting as a "courtesy call," explaining that President Thapa’s visit was part of a regular political process and a consultation with a senior leader of his own party. However, political analysts suggest the meeting goes beyond mere etiquette; for Thapa, the primary challenge and strategic necessity are to bring the Deuba faction on board to prevent a potential split and keep the party unified.
According to spokesperson Chalise, President Thapa is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with other senior leaders and former office bearers in the coming days. These dialogues are intended to finalize the working committee selected by the Special General Convention and to establish a clear roadmap for the party in preparation for the upcoming general elections.
