Push for Nepali Congress leadership change turns into high-stakes struggle

As the country’s oldest democratic party and one of its most enduring political forces for nearly eight decades, the Nepali Congress is on the brink of a split. In the currently dissolved House of Representatives, it partnered with CPN-UML to form the government, which fell apart amid nationwide anti-corruption protests in September 2025. During those protests, the party suffered significant damage. Its central office in Sanepa and 48 district committee offices were vandalised or set on fire.

Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba and his spouse, Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, who was then Minister for Foreign Affairs, were physically assaulted at their residence and required medical attention. Many other leaders’ residences were also attacked. 

Amid this turmoil, general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma began pushing for internal transformation in the party. They designed programmes to modernise structures, improve accountability, and revitalise grassroots democracy.

After more than 50% of delegates signed a petition demanding a special general convention under Article 17(2) of the party statute, the reform camp moved forward with its plan. What began as a push for reform turned into a high-stakes struggle over leadership, statute changes, and the unity of the party. 

Here is how things unfolded.

• In October 2025, a petition signed by 2,488 NC general convention representatives, more than 54% of total delegates, was formally submitted. The petition demanded a Special General Convention under Article 17(2) of the party statute.
• The Central Working Committee (CWC) had earlier scheduled the 15th regular general convention for April 11–14, 2026. Reform leaders argued that delays and inaction justified a special convention. The establishment camp maintained that the original schedule should be respected.
• The Second Special General Convention formally opened at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu on January 11, 2026. The inaugural session recorded a strong turnout as 60% of delegates from the 14th general convention registered for the special convention.
• The convention moved into closed sessions on January 12, 2026. Delegates were divided into discussion groups to debate statute amendments, leadership change, governance reforms, and policy directions.
• Thapa presented a 17-point political resolution, focusing on internal democracy, accountability, and organisational overhaul. It also included statute amendment proposals such as term limits for key offices (president, prime minister, ministers, MPs) and updated election procedures. Sharma presented an organisational report, highlighting structural weaknesses and proposing representational reforms.

As of January 14, 2026, Thapa filed his nomination for party president, Sharma and Pradeep Poudel for general secretaries. The convention was extended beyond its original schedule to continue deliberations on leadership selection and organisational reforms, reaching negotiations with the establishment faction led by Deuba. 

Additionally, an 8-point proposal circulated during talks between reform and establishment leaders as a compromise framework, focusing on transitional leadership arrangements and party unity, including forming a parliamentary board to decide upon election ticket distribution and formally recognising Thapa as the party’s prime ministerial candidate.

The establishment faction questioned the special convention’s legitimacy and took disciplinary action against reform leaders, including suspending General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Joint General Secretary Farmullah Mansur for five years.

In response, leaders from the reform faction indicated that a party meeting will be held under the leadership of Gagan Thapa at the central office in Sanepa within a week. In that meeting, they reportedly plan to work on reversing disciplinary actions taken against the reform leaders and consolidate organisational decisions made at the special convention.