- The Nepali Congress opposition faction formed a 551-member committee for its upcoming national gathering in Kathmandu to demonstrate organizational strength.
- Coordinator Shashank Koirala emphasized the event's role in addressing political instability and debating policy reforms, including party statute amendments.
- While seeking leadership accountability and restructuring, the faction maintains the gathering is a democratic process aimed at party unity, not a division.
Kathmandu, Nepal: The internal power struggle within the Nepali Congress appears to be entering a new phase as the party’s opposition faction has intensified organizational mobilization ahead of its national gathering, highlighting deeper disagreements over leadership, party structure, and the future political direction of the party.
The faction has formed a 551-member main organizing committee along with 16 thematic committees as part of preparations for the national gathering scheduled to be held in Kathmandu from August 14 to 16. Although the faction has described the event as an effort to strengthen the party ideologically and organizationally, the scale of preparation has been interpreted by political circles as an attempt to demonstrate its strength ahead of the upcoming general convention.
The formation of a large organizing committee comprising leaders from different levels of the party reflects the faction’s strategy to project itself as a significant force within the Nepali Congress rather than merely an internal pressure group.
At a press conference held at the faction’s contact office in Chundevi on Saturday, publicity committee coordinator Min Bishwakarma said the committees were formed to ensure effective management of the gathering and prepare political, organizational, and policy agendas.
The main organizing committee includes elected and nominated office bearers and central members from the 14th General Convention, former party officials, provincial and district-level leaders, federal and provincial lawmakers, former ministers, leaders of sister organizations, and representatives of affiliated organizations.
Political observers view the broad composition of the committee as an effort to establish organizational legitimacy and send a message that the opposition faction maintains substantial influence across the party’s national structure.
A former office bearer from the faction claimed that the committee’s structure demonstrated the group’s organizational strength.
“We are not weak within the party. The formation of this committee has already demonstrated our position,” he said. “The purpose of the gathering is not only to organize an event but also to develop a clear political position regarding the party’s future direction and the upcoming general convention.”
Beyond a Gathering: Preparation for Policy and Leadership Debate
The opposition faction has established separate committees focusing on political proposals, contemporary political issues, organizational reform, amendments to the party statute, and economic policy.
The creation of these committees suggests that the gathering is intended to serve as a platform for substantive debate rather than merely a demonstration of internal strength. Issues such as party restructuring, leadership accountability, electoral mechanisms, and ideological direction are expected to dominate discussions.
Among these, the statute amendment draft committee has drawn particular attention. Party insiders believe the faction may seek changes to the existing organizational framework and internal election procedures, which could become major points of debate during the general convention.
However, the faction has avoided openly presenting the gathering as a leadership challenge against the current establishment. The official statement distributed at the press conference did not mention any direct attempt to compete for leadership or establish a separate power center.
Despite this, the timing, scale, and organizational structure of the event indicate that the gathering could become an important platform for reshaping internal power equations before the convention.
Shashank Koirala Highlights Party Crisis and Need for Reform
Former General Secretary Dr. Shashank Koirala has been appointed coordinator of the main organizing committee. Addressing the press conference, Koirala said the national gathering was necessary to address political instability in the country and the internal challenges facing the party.
He argued that Nepal’s politics had remained uncertain and had been affected by violent incidents over the past year, creating challenges for the Nepali Congress as well.
Referring to the violent incident of 24 Bhadra 2082, during which then-party President Sher Bahadur Deuba and then-central member Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba were attacked and party offices were vandalized, Koirala said the crisis required greater unity within the party.
However, he argued that internal disagreements increased after discussions emerged about holding a special general convention at a time when the party statute allowed an extension of the leadership’s tenure.
“The unexpected discussion about a special general convention increased internal differences, and as a result, the party could not achieve the expected outcome in the election,” Koirala said.
He also emphasized that religious tolerance and social harmony were essential foundations of national unity, calling on all political forces to act responsibly.
Shekhar Koirala’s Absence Raises Questions
The absence of Dr. Shekhar Koirala, who contested against Sher Bahadur Deuba for the party presidency during the 14th General Convention, became a subject of discussion during the press conference.
Although most leaders from the opposition faction attended the event, journalists questioned whether his absence indicated differences within the group.
Responding to questions, Shashank Koirala said Shekhar Koirala fully supported the initiative and had expressed solidarity but could not attend due to other commitments.
Nevertheless, his absence has fueled speculation about internal coordination within the opposition faction, which includes leaders with different political interests and ambitions.
Unity vs. Internal Competition
The Nepali Congress opposition faction announced the national gathering on July 21 during the 44th BP Memorial Day. Some political observers have raised concerns that increasing internal polarization could eventually threaten party unity.
However, leaders from both the establishment and opposition factions have repeatedly rejected the possibility of a party split, arguing that internal debate is a normal democratic process within a major political organization.
Opposition faction leader NP Saud, who attended the Chundevi press conference, stressed the importance of unity within the party.
“Unity is the greatest necessity for our party. The place where unity must be reflected is the party leadership,” Saud said. “We have been urging the leadership to adopt an inclusive approach and bring everyone together.”
A Test of Influence Before the Convention
The upcoming national gathering is likely to become a significant test of the opposition faction’s organizational capacity and political influence.
While the faction has framed the event as an effort to reform and strengthen the Nepali Congress, its broader implications are linked to the ongoing contest over leadership, representation, and the future direction of the party.
Rather than representing an immediate threat of division, the gathering appears to reflect a broader struggle within the Nepali Congress over how the party should respond to changing public expectations, internal dissatisfaction, and challenges to its traditional leadership structure.
The outcome of the gathering could influence the balance of power within the party and shape Nepal’s political landscape leading up to the next general convention.
