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Nepali Congress leader Chandra Bhandari has announced his candidacy for the post of President at the party's 15th general convention.

Bhandari announced his candidacy for the party President via social media on Wednesday, saying that he is ready to move ahead in line with the interests of the people, values of democracy, and organizational needs.

Earlier, General Secretary Gagan Thapa had announced his candidacy for the post of President.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has formally presented an additional proposal to the party’s Central Committee, urging immediate steps to hold the 15th General Convention before the upcoming general election scheduled for March 5. 

In his proposal presented before the party’s Central Committee meeting on Monday, Thapa argues that the country’s political landscape has fundamentally changed since the Sept 8–9 GenZ uprisal, making a timely convention essential for the party’s credibility and renewal.

According to Thapa, the situation before and after the GenZ-led protests, which toppled the previous coalition government led by KP Sharma Oli, dissolved parliament and paved the way for an interim administration, was “completely different.” He said the unexpected national crisis shattered the political ground the party had been standing on.

“After the Sept 8-9 upheaval, the party cannot move forward with regular activities,” Thapa states in his proposal. He adds that in the new context, political parties across the spectrum are preparing for elections with fresh strategies, new leadership, and reorganized structures.

Thapa notes the Nepali Congress’s historical tradition of navigating moments of crisis through national gatherings, such as Mahasamiti sessions, special conventions and general conventions. “We cannot abandon that tradition,” he says, stressing that the party must present voters with renewed policies, leadership, and a clear political message before facing the electorate.

He also criticizes the party leadership for halting convention-related work for the past 45 days, arguing that the delay weakened the party’s political position and prevented necessary interventions in national politics. “Had the party allowed convention preparations to proceed as proposed in September, lower-level conventions would already have been completed,” he says.

On Monday, the party presented a revised schedule to conclude the central-level convention within 45 days. As per the party’s decision, the 15th General Convention will be held on Jan 10–12. Thapa describes the timeline as “highly challenging” but insists that the party must compensate for the time lost due to internal disagreements.

Thapa references the signatures of more than 54 percent of Central Committee members who on Oct 15 formally demanded a special general convention under Article 17(2) of the party statute. “Their intention was clear: the party must hold a convention (regular or special) before participating in the general election,” he states. 

He maintains that the party cannot face the general election, or the people, without a new mandate from the general convention. “Public trust cannot be secured through internal assurances alone. Our accountability lies with the Nepali people.” 

He also warns that if the 15th General Convention cannot be held for any reason by January, the party should not wait until the month’s end. Instead, it should immediately decide to move toward a special general convention. “In that situation, the party will have no choice,” he concludes.

Nepali Congress leader Dr Shashanka Koirala has said that the timeline set for the party's General Convention is insufficient.

Speaking to the media in Chitwan today, he stressed that at least three months of preparation are necessary to organize the General Convention. 

“The time is not sufficient for the event. If it is not possible to hold it within the stipulated timeframe, it will take place after the election announced for March 5, 2026,” he said. 

The NC Central Committee meeting, which concluded on Monday, has decided to hold the General Convention on January 10–12. 

He expressed the view that everyone associated with the party should prepare for the General Convention and that it should also include participation from Gen Z groups.

Responding to a media query, he said, “I was considering running for the post of party president. Shekhar is also in the race. Discussions are going on. One of us will contest for the post.”

A Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress has decided to hold a regular general convention in the second week of January.

The meeting held at the party office in Sanepa on Monday decided to hold the 15th general convention on January 10-12 in Kathmandu, party spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat informed.

Similarly, the meeting has set the deadline for distributing new active members until December 6.

The meeting has decided that the forms should be distributed to the wards by December 10 and the work of new active members should be completed by December 23, spokesperson Mahat said.

It has been decided to call for the complaints and the final list including the new ones will be submitted to the President on December 29 after investigating the complaints. 

The new active memberships will be distributed to new generations, leaders and cadres of other parties.

The convention of the liaison committees will be held by December 30, the village/town convention by December 31, and the provincial regional convention by January 3.

Regional conventions and the convention of districts with a single constituency will be held by January 5.

The district conventions of districts with more than one constituency are to take place by January 6, and the provincial conventions on January 7–8.

Similarly, as per the Central Committee decision, the term of the Central Committee, which is set to end on December 9, will be extended until mid-February, 2026.

Nepali Congress is yet to resolve the general convention issue that has gripped the party for more than two months. While General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa remains determined to hold the convention before the elections, fears of a possible party split continue to grow. If a special general convention is held as demanded by 54 convention representatives, the likelihood of a split cannot be ruled out.

Initially, party president Sher Bahadur Deuba appeared positive about holding the convention before the elections. However, after returning from Singapore where he underwent treatment, his stance has noticeably hardened. Meanwhile, around half a dozen senior leaders have begun openly criticizing Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma for creating troubles within the party. Amid these tensions, the NC is failing to articulate a clear position on the elections.

In an effort to find a way out, Thapa and senior leader Shekhar Koirala held consultations this week. Still, due to ongoing disagreements over the convention, the Central Working Committee meeting has once again been postponed until Saturday. Despite several rounds of talks between Deuba and Thapa, no breakthrough has emerged.

As intra-party uncertainty persists, the broader election atmosphere remains unsettled. Yet Prime Minister Sushila Karki has sounded increasingly confident about holding elections on schedule. Responding to CPN-UML’s demand for parliament restoration, she warned that attempts to revive Parliament could complicate the situation further. In a pointed message to UML, she said: “Even after the election has been announced, the confusion seen on the sidelines of politics within some parties, the demand for the reinstatement of Parliament, and the act of questioning the legitimacy of the government could once again push the nation into a cycle of instability… If one now chooses to take a stance in favor of reinstating Parliament, it only confirms an attempt to repeat the political mishap of the past.”

On Nov 19, Karki held discussions with representatives of the 125 political parties registered with the Election Commission, attempting to reassure them that elections will take place on time. Nevertheless, UML has officially decided to file cases at the Supreme Court demanding Parliament’s restoration.

Amid the legislative vacuum, the government is preparing to issue ordinances to ease appointments to constitutional bodies without parliamentary hearings. However, if the President endorses these ordinances, they are likely to draw widespread criticism, and may face legal challenges.

Adding to the volatility, the clash between GenZ protesters and UML cadres in Bara district marks a serious development. It comes at a time when political parties are already expressing concerns over the security environment for the elections. Many fear that similar incidents could escalate during the campaign period. In this context, a group led by Sudan Gurung is demanding the resignation of Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal and calling for the arrest of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli. Meanwhile, UML is preparing to stage large-scale protests in Kathmandu.

Parallel to this, efforts are underway to formalize a document between the government and various GenZ groups to institutionalize the Sept 8-9 protests. Around 40 GenZ groups have submitted demands to the government. While the current government, which rose to power on the wave of those protests, supports legitimizing the movement, major political parties continue to resist the idea.

Within UML, internal tensions are also intensifying. Chairman Oli has dismissed the possibility of handing over leadership to new leaders, even blocking former president Bidya Devi Bhandari’s potential return by scrapping her membership. Yet Bhandari’s influence remains significant. Senior leader Ishwar Pokharel, who enjoys her backing, is preparing to challenge Oli in the upcoming general convention. Bhandari has been actively meeting UML leaders who favor a leadership change.

Similarly, UML leader Yogesh Bhattarai has grown increasingly vocal about the need for new leadership. Several senior leaders fear the party will face major losses if it contests elections under Oli’s stewardship.

In the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), instability is also deepening. High-profile leaders Sumana Shrestha and Santosh Pariyar have already left, and reports suggest others may follow. The party’s push to secure the release of its chairman Rabi Lamichhane has been unsuccessful, and in his absence, leadership disputes have intensified. Although the GenZ movement was expected to strengthen the party, internal conflict has instead weakened it further.

On the law-and-order front, the government has arrested controversial businessman Durga Prasai on charges of disrupting public order. Prasai, now a vocal proponent of monarchy and a Hindu state, had been preparing to launch street protests. Several leaders have called for his release, citing freedom of speech. A video he released, claiming Prime Minister Karki was behind the GenZ movement, has since gone viral.

Meanwhile, Netra Bikram Chand has formally registered his political party, CPN (Maoist), at the Election Commission. Unlike Pushpa Kamal Dahal of CPN (Maoist Center),  Chand has retained his Maoist ideological line. He had previously split from Dahal in 2012 alongside Mohan Baidya.

Despite the political turbulence, the Election Commission has begun preparations for the March 5 elections. It has called on parties to register themselves in order to participate.

Internationally, Nepal maintained a low-profile presence at this year’s UN climate change conference (COP), represented only at the ministerial level and with minimal civil society participation. As usual, Nepal emphasized issues related to climate justice.

The largest party in the dissolved House of Representatives (HoR), the Nepali Congress (NC), is embroiled in an internal rift over whether to convene the party’s convention to elect a new leadership.

The party’s youth leaders are demanding that the convention be held before the next election, arguing that the NC should go to the polls with new leadership and renewed energy. However, the establishment faction, led by Vice-president Purna Bahadur Khadka, prefers to hold the convention after the election. The party has faced growing criticism for failing to take initiative to resolve the ongoing political stalemate, appearing instead preoccupied with its internal disputes. The rift has laid bare the ongoing struggle between the party’s second- and third-tier leaders for control of its future direction.

Senior figures such as Khadka, Prakash Man Singh, Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Bimalendra Nidhi are reportedly intent on preventing Gagan Kumar Thapa from ascending to the party presidency. Thapa, however, remains firm in his intention to contest. In the absence of Sher Bahadur Deuba, the NC is facing a clear leadership vacuum as intergenerational rivalries intensify. Meanwhile, senior leader Shekhar Koirala has chosen to remain silent amid the escalating discord.

In contrast, the CPN-UML appears to be making steady progress toward its general convention, scheduled for mid-December. Initially, the party planned to hold the convention in Pokhara but later shifted the venue to Kathmandu due to party Chair KP Sharma Oli’s travel restrictions. Although some voices within the UML had earlier urged Oli to step aside, those calls have largely faded. A few leaders still argue that the party should not go into the elections under Oli’s leadership, but he has made it clear that he intends to contest at the General Convention.

Some party members have proposed that former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s membership be reinstated so she could take over the UML leadership after Oli, but he has shown no inclination to welcome her back. On national politics, the UML maintains that the only viable path forward is to briefly restore Parliament to legitimize the election process. Meanwhile, tensions between Prime Minister Sushila Karki and the UML continue to grow. Oli believes he is being directly targeted by the government and fears possible arrest.

Amid this shifting political landscape, a growing number of GenZ activists have entered the scene. They are engaging with political parties, civil society and business groups, though the government and established parties find it difficult to work with them due to their lack of unified positions. Rather than coalescing around shared reform agendas such as anti-corruption or governance reform, many GenZ figures appear increasingly motivated by personal political ambitions. An unhealthy competition has emerged among them to secure ministerial positions or advance individual agendas, while some remain openly hostile toward traditional political parties.

Seeking to consolidate his base after recent turmoil, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chair of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center), has brought together 10 communist parties to form a new organization under the old banner, the Nepali Communist Party. Meanwhile, the CPN (Unified Socialist) led by Madhav Kumar Nepal is fragmenting. One faction has merged with Dahal, another is preparing to rejoin the UML, and a third, led by Ghanashyam Bhushal, plans to form a separate political force. Within the Maoist Center itself, Janardhan Sharma has resigned protesting against the unification, and is reportedly in talks with other leaders to create a new political party.

In an effort to create momentum for elections, Prime Minister Karki has held consultations with former presidents Ram Baran Yadav and Bidya Devi Bhandari. She appears to believe they could help facilitate dialogue among top political leaders. However, without direct engagement between the prime minister and major party heads, progress toward a conducive electoral environment remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, controversial businessperson Durga Prasai is preparing to launch a street movement calling for the restoration of monarchy and the Hindu state. The government is concerned that his activities could disturb public order, especially given that protests he organized in March turned violent. Authorities have invited him for dialogue, as his influence appears to be growing, particularly after Prime Minister Karki made conciliatory remarks about him and the Nepali Army invited him to consultations as a “stakeholder.”

With less than 120 days remaining before the March 5 elections, the Ministry of Home Affairs is currently drafting an integrated security plan to safeguard the electoral process. So far, the government has yet to ensure a stable political and security environment. This has fueled speculation about potential successors should Prime Minister Karki fail to conduct the elections. Names such as Baburam Bhattarai and Kalyan Shrestha have surfaced as possible candidates. 

Adding to the tension, the Supreme Court recently issued an interim order restraining the government from implementing its decision to recall 11 ambassadors. The government, however, has defied the order, insisting the ambassadors return to Nepal, citing a lack of trust. This defiance has sparked a broader debate over the balance of power between the executive and the judiciary.

Strains between the government and Parliament are also deepening. HoR Speaker Devraj Ghimire has accused the interim government of acting against the legislature and its members. In a meeting with journalists at Singhadurbar, Ghimire said the government appears intent on weakening the parliamentary system. His statement was prompted by the government’s decision to remove personal secretaries of the Deputy Speaker, Vice-chairperson of the National Assembly and 58 National Assembly members.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Karki met with chief ministers of all seven provinces. The provincial heads objected to several recent federal decisions that they claimed infringed on their constitutional powers. The meeting also touched upon election preparedness and coordination between federal and provincial governments.

Following the GenZ protests, the number of political parties in Nepal continues to rise. As of now, 18 new parties are awaiting registration with the Election Commission (EC). The most recent application is from the Nepali Communist Party, bringing the total number of registration requests to 18. Before the GenZ movement, only nine such applications had been filed, while the rest followed in its aftermath. Currently, 125 political parties have already obtained official registration certificates from the EC.

The Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress scheduled for today has been postponed. 

The next meeting will be held on November 4, said NC Party Office Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel.

The party has requested its office bearers, members, invitee members and presidents of all seven provinces to attend the meeting. 

The meeting was put off after the establishment side and factional side could not forge consensus regarding presenting a proposal to announce the date of the party's 15th general convention.  

Earlier, the meeting called for Friday was also deferred.

The Nepali Congress is holding its Central Working Committee meeting at the party's central office, BP Smriti Bhawan, Lalitpur on Thursday.

It has been said that the meeting will focus on matters related to the party's 15th General Convention, as the term of the CWC currently led by President Sher Bahadur Deuba is ending by mid-December. Some leaders had launched a signature campaign calling for a special general convention.

It has been reported that 54 percent of the general convention delegates have signed for a special general convention.

Earlier, in the CWC meeting that began on October 14, party president Sher Bahadur Deuba had given the responsibility of acting president to vice president Purna Bahadur Khadka, citing health reasons. Since then, the working committee meeting has been held under Khadka's chairmanship.

NC President Deuba and his wife Arzu Rana Deuba are currently in Singapore for medical treatment.

Nepali Congress has withdrawn its support from the Madhes Province government.

The Parliamentary Party meeting held at the Nepali Congress Madhes Province Office in Janakpurdham on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of support to the government.

Parliamentary Party leader Krishna Yadav informed that the decision was taken at the Parliamentary Party meeting to withdraw the support extended to the government effective from today and recall the ministers participating in the government.

Nepal’s first and second largest parties in the recently dissolved House of Representatives — the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML — are expected to put forward at least three conditions before agreeing to participate in the elections, which are tentatively scheduled for March 5, if everything goes as planned.

In their initial reactions, these parties have not opposed the elections. After spending ten days under Nepal Army protection, top leaders of major political parties have started returning to their rented apartments, as their personal residences were selectively burned down by protestors. Many leaders are still in hiding due to ongoing threats and an environment of insecurity.

According to cross-party leaders, the first major condition for participating in the election is full-proof security. Parties argue that elections cannot be held in an atmosphere of terror, reminiscent of the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections. They have expressed doubts over the possibility of free and fair elections, especially as the morale of the security forces is reportedly low following widespread attacks on political offices across the country.

Secondly, major political parties have acknowledged the demands of the Zen-Z protestors but are calling for a thorough investigation into what they describe as targeted attacks on select political leaders and the destruction of vital state institutions such as the Parliament, Judiciary, and Singha Durbar. Although the Sushila Karki-led government has pledged to form a high-level investigation committee, no concrete progress has been made so far. A senior UML leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed the need for a transparent investigation and prosecution of those involved in the violence and property destruction. The Nepali Congress has also demanded an investigation into the September 9 attacks, including the assault on its Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

However, these demands are expected to face resistance from Zen-Z protestors, making it a challenging balancing act for Prime Minister Sushila Karki. She cannot afford to sideline either the protestors or the political parties if elections are to proceed smoothly. Society remains divided between two extremes — some believe the new government should completely ignore political parties, while certain party leaders continue to downplay the significance of the Zen-Z protests. Finding a reconciliatory path between these opposing views poses a serious challenge for the government.

Moreover, the major political parties — CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), and Nepali Congress — have already declared the dissolution of Parliament unconstitutional. They are likely to file cases in the Supreme Court to determine its legality. These parties may decide to participate in the elections only after a verdict is issued. Past experience suggests that the Supreme Court can take several months to deliver rulings on constitutional matters, and internal disagreements among justices could further delay the process. In 2020 and 2021, the Supreme Court had invalidated the dissolution of Parliament by then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, although the context now is markedly different.

As of now, political parties have yet to resume their usual activities. Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba is undergoing treatment in an army barrack after being seriously injured in an attack on him and his spouse, Arzu Rana Deuba. CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has returned to a rented residence in Bhaktapur and issued a statement on Constitution Day. The Nepali Congress has held its first meeting of top leaders to discuss current issues. Meanwhile, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has publicly supported the Zen-Z protestors’ demand for a directly elected president.

The Karki-led government has only just begun its work, forming a four-member cabinet so far. Prime Minister Karki is facing challenges in expanding the cabinet. President Ram Chandra Poudel had advised her to include representatives from major political parties, but Karki rejected the suggestion, arguing that appointing discredited political leaders could send the wrong message and provoke further protests. This decision, however, may make governance more difficult, as political parties could oppose every move she makes. The possibility of political parties taking to the streets once the situation stabilizes cannot be ruled out. Additionally, tensions between the President and the Prime Minister may escalate. President Poudel has already publicly stated that he will not endorse any ordinances except those related to elections, signaling potential friction between the two offices.

Nepal's major political parties have strongly opposed Prime Minister Sushila Karki’s decision to dissolve the Federal Parliament, calling it unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Karki, who was appointed Prime Minister on September 12 with a mandate to hold general elections within six months, announced the dissolution of Parliament shortly after being sworn in. She also set March 5 as the date for the next election.

In a joint statement, eight major political parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, and Nagarik Unmukti Party—expressed serious concern over the move, stating they "totally disagree" with the decision.

"We promulgated a new constitution on the foundation of people’s long struggle for democracy and sacrifice. Any move against the constitution is unacceptable to us," the statement reads.

The parties argue that the dissolution violates Article 76(2) of the Constitution and goes against previous verdicts of the Supreme Court of Nepal. They have demanded the immediate restoration of Parliament and called for a parliamentary session to address national issues, including those raised by recent protestors.

According to the statement, the parties believe that public demands must be resolved within the constitutional and parliamentary framework.

Meanwhile, the fourth and fifth largest parties in Parliament—Rastriya Swatantra Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party—have not issued any public statements regarding the dissolution.

The Nepali Congress has stated that the dissolution of Parliament is contrary to the vision of the Constitution and the interpretation of the Supreme Court.     

The meeting of the Central Working Committee of the party held on Friday night regarding the latest developments in the country decided that the dissolution of Parliament is not in accordance with the Constitution, while concluding that the move has undermined democratic achievements.     

Coordinated by Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka the meeting was attended by the provincial chairs, chief ministers and leaders of the provincial parliamentary parties of all seven provinces as well as invitees.     

The Congress has urged that the unpleasant and unprecedented incidents that took place on September 8 and 9 should be investigated and that the constitution drafted by the Constituent Assembly and its achievements should be safeguarded.     

To prevent the situation from deteriorating further and to prevent the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal from going outside of the parth, the Nepali Congress has decided to play a leading role for the sake of peace, democracy, progress and prosperity in consultation with other political parties and civil society, reads the statement issued by Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel. (RSS)

The major ruling partner, Nepali Congress, has decided to talk to the government on the latter's decision to block social networks. 

The government has blocked two dozens of social networks, reasoning that they failed to get listed.

The meeting of the Central Execution Committee of NC decided to make its views public only after holding discussion with the government on restriction to social media. 

The Committee meeting was held at the residence of Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Budhanilakantha, according to Joint General Secretary of the party, Jivan Pariyar. 

Former State Minister for Health Khadga Bahadur Bashyal has passed away on Friday.

Bashyal has served as former chairperson of the Nepal Dalit Federation, member Constituent Assembly of 2064 (BS) and 2070 (BS), former member of the Nepali Congress District Working Committee of Surkhet, and central member in the Nepal Democracy Fighters Association (NDFA)

Bashyal, a resident of Tatapani, Birendranagar Municipality-3, Surkhet, suffering from cancer, passed away at his residence today.

Nepali Congress said that with his death, the party has lost a senior and experienced leader.

President of the Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba expressed grievances over the demise of Bashyal.

Deuba said, "The news of the passing of former State minister for Health and member of Constituent Assembly has made me saddened, devasted and heart-rent."

President Deuba also said that the late Bashyal's leadership role in building the Nepali Congress organization and his role in Nepal's democratic movements will always be remembered in the party.

Paying heartfelt tributes to him, President Deuba expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the party and myself, praying for the eternal peace of his soul. (RSS)

Nepali Congress Bagmati Province Parliamentary Party leader Bahadur Lama has lost the post of Parliamentary Party leader.

Lama is also the Chief Minister of Bagmati Province.

In the vote that took place on a no-confidence motion registered against him, 15 NC provincial assembly members voted against the motion while 22 voted for it, ousting him from the post of Parliament Party leader.

The no-confidence motion was registered against him last Friday.

There are 37 provincial assembly members representing the Nepali Congress in the Bagmati Province Assembly and subsequent members of the NC Parliamentary Party.

The ruling coalition partner Nepali Congress (NC) has urged the government to urgently address the pressing problems faced by farmers across the Madhes Province such as shortage of drinking water and irrigation facilities and unavailability of fertilizers and seeds.

The call for urgent action was made in the meeting of NC office bearers and former office-bearers presided over by party President Sher Bahadur Deuba at his residence in Budhanilakantha today.

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ramnath Adhikari briefed about the current status of the country's agriculture sector.

NC's Joint General-Secretary Jeevan Pariyar informed that the meeting emphasized collaborative efforts among all three-tiers of governments to resolve the drinking water problem and irrigation issues prevailing in  Madhes Province and to ensure timely supply of fertilizers and seeds.

He clarified that on the contrary to the public speculation, the meeting did not dwell on the issue relating to reshuffle of ministers in the federal government.

During the meeting, ministers currently serving in the government representing the NC also presented updates on the progress made by their respective ministries.

Likewise, General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma informed about the upcoming by-elections in Rupandehi district and the voter-related concerns.