NC heads into March polls divided and weakened amid rebel–old guard leadership battle

The simmering unease between the establishment side and the rival group finally led to a split in the country’s oldest democratic party, the Nepali Congress. The Special General Convention, which elected its central working body under NC General Secretary Gagan Thapa and the suspension of two general secretaries by the party’s establishment hastened the split. With the March 5 general election approaching and the party required to file the names of candidates for the election at the Election Commission by January 20, the timing of the split could be particularly unfavorable for the grand old party that once took pride in holding together during challenging times.