Deuba’s Nepali Congress ticket chances fade
With candidate registration scheduled for Magh 6 ahead of the Falgun 21 election, discussions are underway between leaders of the newly elected central committee and Deuba’s faction.
KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress is unlikely to field outgoing party president Sher Bahadur Deuba as a candidate in the upcoming House of Representatives election.
With candidate registration scheduled for Magh 6 ahead of the Falgun 21 election, discussions are underway between leaders of the newly elected central committee and Deuba’s faction.
While Deuba’s supporters are demanding tickets for him and allied leaders, Gagan Thapa’s faction is reportedly prioritizing candidates based on electoral viability rather than factional affiliation.
Party insiders say there is little institutional support for giving Deuba a ticket. “Outgoing President Deuba should now play a supervisory role. Granting him a ticket would send the wrong message nationwide. The party is in a phase of transformation and generational transition,” a leader said.
Gagan Thapa has emphasized that candidate selection will no longer be faction-based. “Tickets will be allocated based on recommendations from the lower-level bodies, not factional demands. From the next election, candidates will be decided through primary elections,” he stated.
Thapa added in a video message on Sunday that ticket distribution will be inclusive, balanced, and fair, urging all party leaders and workers to unite behind official candidates in their constituencies.
Meanwhile, Deuba’s faction has approached the Supreme Court seeking annulment of the Election Commission’s recognition of the newly elected central committee.
Discussions between the factions continue as the party navigates internal disputes and tight electoral timelines.
