KATHMANDU — The Nepali Congress (NC), currently split into multiple factions, will hold its 15th General Convention starting Sunday, October 4, in Kathmandu.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 PM at Khula Manch, with closed-door sessions beginning on Monday. The convention is likely to re-elect Gagan Kumar Thapa as party president for a four-year term.

According to party spokesperson Dev Raj Chalise, over 7,500 delegates will participate, marking the largest turnout in the history of the Nepali Congress.

A rival faction led by former president Sher Bahadur Deuba is organizing a separate gathering starting from the grassroots level. Meanwhile, senior leader Shekhar Koirala, who contested against Deuba in the previous convention, has taken a neutral stance. Political observers warn that internal rivalries could further weaken the party.

Earlier, the Supreme Court and the Election Commission recognized the legitimacy of the faction led by Thapa, who was elected president during a special general convention.

This division represents the second major split within the Nepali Congress in nearly 25 years. The earlier fracture occurred in 2002, when Sher Bahadur Deuba broke away to form a new faction following sharp intra-party disputes with party president Girija Prasad Koirala.

Gagan Kumar Thapa stated that he attempted to forge unity by speaking with Sher Bahadur Deuba, but Deuba refused to meet with him.

Deuba’s political influence appears to have weakened as a majority of leaders and cadres have joined the Thapa-led faction of the Nepali Congress.