The Gagan Thapa-led faction has been recognised as the official Nepali Congress by the Supreme Court, dealing a blow to Sher Bahadur Deuba.
A division bench of Justices Saranga Subedi and Nripa Dhwoj Niroula on Friday ruled in favour of the Election Commission’s (EC) recognition of the current Central Working Committee (CWC) led by Thapa, myRepublica newspaper reported.
Thapa, 49, was elected as the Nepali Congress president in a special general convention from January 11 to 14 in Kathmandu, which was challenged by the Deuba-led faction.
Former prime minister Deuba and party’s acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka had challenged the EC’s decision as well as the validity of the special general convention, arguing that the recognition of the Thapa-led leadership was unconstitutional, unlawful and contrary to the party statute.
The Deuba faction later moved the Supreme Court on January 18.
With the verdict, the SC dismissed their petitions, effectively affirming the legitimacy of both the EC’s decision and the leadership structure emerging from the special general convention.
On March 19, Thapa had submitted his resignation as president of the Nepali Congress after the party's defeat in the recently held general elections. However, his resignation was rejected by the CWC and he has since continued to lead the party.
The Nepali Congress (NC) secured just 38 seats in the 275-member Lower House known as the Pratinidhi Sabha. Thapa, who was projected as the NC's prime ministerial candidate, also lost from Dhanusha-4 constituency.
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