Archive · 16 Jan 2026
Nepal Election Commission Recognizes Thapa-Led Nepali Congress
The Nepali Congress, a major political party in Nepal, recently split into two groups.
One group is led by Gagan Thapa, and the other by Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Both groups wanted to be recognized as the official Nepali Congress.
The Election Commission of Nepal decided that Gagan Thapa's group is the official one.
This decision was made on January 16, 2024.
The Deuba group is not happy with this decision and plans to protest.
The split happened because the two groups could not agree on how to reform the party.
This is important because Nepal is preparing for general elections on March 5, 2024.
The Nepali Congress formally split into two factions led by Gagan Thapa and Sher Bahadur Deuba.
The Election Commission of Nepal recognized the Gagan Thapa-led faction as the official Nepali Congress on January 16, 2024.
The Deuba faction plans to protest the decision and will challenge it on all fronts.
The Thapa-led group held a Special General Convention and elected a new executive body, which was challenged by the Deuba faction.
The election symbol 'tree' and the party office in Sanepa, Lalitpur district, belong to the Gagan Thapa-led Nepali Congress.
- Who
- Nepali Congress factions led by Gagan Thapa and Sher Bahadur Deuba
- What
- Election Commission of Nepal recognized the Gagan Thapa-led faction as the official Nepali Congress
- When
- January 16, 2024
- Where
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- Why
- Due to a formal split in the Nepali Congress over party reforms, with both factions claiming legitimacy
- Factions Involved
- Gagan Thapa-led faction and Sher Bahadur Deuba-led faction
- Decision Date
- January 16, 2024
- Election Symbol
- Tree
- Party Office Location
- Sanepa, Lalitpur district
- Upcoming Elections
- March 5, 2024