Nepal's Election Commission Recognizes Gagan Thapa Faction as Legitimate Nepali Congress

Nepal's Election Commission officially recognized the Gagan Thapa-led faction as the legitimate Nepali Congress on January 16, 2026, following a split in the country's oldest party. The division arose after a special general convention elected Thapa, a 49-year-old reformist, as party president, replacing veteran Sher Bahadur Deuba. The split reflects demands from Gen Z youths for party reforms and greater representation. The Thapa faction has called for internal unity and pledged to focus on fulfilling the aspirations of Nepalese people ahead of the March 5 parliamentary elections.