Official Recognition of Congress Goes to Gagan Thapa: Election Commission Puts Deuba in Political Crossroads

Kathmandu — The Election Commission has officially recognized the Nepali Congress led by Gagan Kumar Thapa. With this recent decision, the party’s name, election symbol, and flag now belong to Thapa’s faction.

The ruling marks a decisive turn in the long-standing internal power struggle within the Nepali Congress. Sher Bahadur Deuba, who has served as party president for two terms and as the country’s prime minister five times, now finds himself politically sidelined in the later stage of his career. Following the commission’s decision, Deuba’s faction is currently without a party.

The Election Commission is reportedly preparing to grant Deuba’s group time to select a new party name and a separate election symbol. This raises questions about whether a new political stream will emerge under Deuba’s leadership or whether another form of the old Congress tradition will continue—issues that have drawn significant attention in national politics.

Political analysts suggest that the commission’s ruling will have far-reaching implications, not only for the history of the Nepali Congress but for the country’s overall political landscape. With the restructuring of power, organization, and public support, Nepali Congress politics now appears poised to take a new direction.