The Supreme Court has issued a show cause against the government and Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) as the association's leadership starts the process for a unity general convention following the government's call.

Responding to a writ petition filed by the association’s former vice-president Rajendra Kumar (RK) Sharma, a single bench of Justice Bal Krishna Dhakal ordered the defendants to furnish a written clarification within two weeks.

The world conference of the Nepali diaspora had on October 20 last year elected Badri KC, who secured 1,378 votes. Mahesh Shrestha, a contender for the presidential position, garnered 1,225 votes, while Sharma received 1,281. Shrestha and Sharma rejected the results claiming it was rigged. All three started running the association parallelly.

Amid the dispute, the NRNA’s 10th convention held on March 27, 2022, elected Kul Acharya, KC and Rabina Thapa as chairpersons. Each of the chairpersons would serve six months. This move had received the government's legitimacy.

The case reached not just the police but to the top court as well. On April 4, a division bench of justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Nahakul Subedi invalidated all the committees. It handed over the entire responsibility to manage the association to the dispute resolution committee led by Shesh Ghale, the former NRNA president. The Malla-led bench also directed for an unity convention after resolving the dispute.

A week later, the erstwhile government wrote to the NRNA secretariat not to perform any activities except day to day administrative works. It stopped KC from doing any activities as per the verdict from the division bench.

Dissatisfied with the decision, KC and others challenged the government's decision in the top court.

Passing a verdict on the petition, the court on August 6 cleared the way for the working committee led by KC to carry out its work. The division bench of justices Til Prasad Shrestha and Tek Prasad Dhungana ordered the nullification of the government's letter barring the KC-led Working Committee from functioning. His committee started working full-fledged following the verdict.

On October 20, the foreign ministry wrote a letter to Ghale and the NRNA Secretariat regarding the implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision dated April 4. Sharma's team moved the top court against the decision.

Of late, politicisation has gripped the NRNA resulting in disputes mainly on partisan grounds. While KC is close to the ruling party CPN-UML, Sharma is close to the CPN (Maoist Centre), the main opposition. It has, since long, stood at the verge of split.

Amid the deepening conflict, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has asked the association leaders to remain united, giving up the disputes.

Addressing the global conference of the association on October 27, he said that the reputation of the association deteriorated over the few years because of the dispute.

“The NRNA should not be interfered with by the government. If it works independently and impartially, the government is ready to help,” he said. “It will be easier to work together, only if it stands united.”