Nepali Congress (NC) leaders have voiced serious concerns that chronic factionalism, dysfunctional party structures, intra-party betrayal and a lack of clarity over electoral alliances could severely hurt the party’s performance in the 2027 national elections.
During the ongoing Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting, several leaders urged the party leadership to begin preparations for the upcoming elections. These concerns have intensified in light of CPN-UML’s aggressive ‘Mission 2084’ campaign, launched shortly after the last election, and the CPN (Maoist Center)’s continued grassroots mobilization since 2024.
Senior NC leader Narayan Prakash Saud criticized the party’s inaction. “On the one hand, our organizations are becoming obsolete, and on the other, we are alienating parties that have historically supported us. There are clear signs we will receive fewer votes than we did in the previous elections,” Saud warned during the CWC meeting.
CWC member Dila Sangraula questioned the party’s readiness to contest elections without any alliances. “What preparations have been made so far?” she asked. “If we contest alone, will we win 70–80 seats under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system—or just 25–30? Let’s think seriously.” In 2017, when NC fought the elections alone, it managed to secure just 23 FPTP seats while the UML-Maoist alliance dominated.
The party now finds itself in a precarious position. On one hand, grassroots cadres are pressuring the leadership not to form an alliance with the Maoists due to past tensions. On the other hand, should the UML and Maoists realign, NC fears a repeat of the 2017 defeat. Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba is in favor of forming an electoral alliance, while other senior leaders remain divided and inconsistent in their views. The ongoing CWC meeting has exposed a sharp internal rift over this issue.
Intra-party betrayal remains a key challenge. In 2022, several leaders backed by senior figures defied the official party line by fielding rival candidates. Now, the party is debating whether to take disciplinary action against them. Senior leader Shekhar Koirala has called for amnesty for these candidates. Meanwhile, the NC’s Disciplinary Committee, led by Ananda Dhungana, has received 21 complaints, most related to internal betrayal.
Some leaders also flagged growing public frustration with major political parties, including NC, which could significantly impact the 2027 outcome. They fear not only swing voters but also core supporters may turn to emerging political forces. However, senior leaders have dismissed this concern, arguing that traditional parties still enjoy broad support and are merely victims of a systematic smear campaign.
At the meeting, Sangraula pointed out that more than 80 percent of the public is dissatisfied with mainstream political parties, including NC. “Based on our conversations with local leaders and cadres,” she said, “the frustration we sense on the ground could prove disastrous for us in the next elections.”
Due to ongoing factional disputes, NC has long failed to hold general conventions for its sister organizations. Senior leader Shashank Koirala proposed amending the constitution to replace “secularism” with “religious freedom,” a long-standing demand of him.
He also called for a review of the mixed electoral system—FPTP and proportional representation (PR)—introduced in 2008. “This system prevents any single party from gaining a majority,” he argued, suggesting instead that all members of the House of Representatives (HoR) be elected through FPTP and the National Assembly through PR.
Senior leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula raised concerns over the judiciary, referring to the recent Supreme Court verdict on constitutional appointments made four years ago. “The Chief Justice was in the minority despite the constitution clearly stating the verdict must be delivered under the Chief Justice’s leadership,” he said. “It’s time we review how our courts function, from the district level to the Supreme Court.”
Party spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat said NC joined the coalition government with the expectation of having at least 50 percent influence. “It’s a coalition government, which makes it difficult to either stay or exit. But if we stay, our ministers must perform better than those from other parties.” Meanwhile, internal debates continue over whether the party’s general convention should be held before or after the 2027 elections.
