Why a split in the Nepali Congress looks imminent
Summary
The Nepali Congress is on the brink of a significant split with rival factions led by President Sher Bahadur Deuba and general secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma clashing over the timing and nature of the party's general convention amid calls for reform and leadership change.
Key Points
- The Nepali Congress faces a looming vertical split due to rival factions preparing separate conventions.
- President Sher Bahadur Deuba leads the establishment faction advocating a regular convention post-election.
- General secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma lead a reformist faction pushing for a special convention before the elections.
- Past splits in 1953 and 2002 reveal historical precedents of internal party divisions under leadership conflicts.
