The Supreme Court has recognised the Gagan Thapa faction as the official Nepali Congress, effectively ending a three-month-long dispute over the party’s legitimacy.

A division bench of Justices Sharanga Subedi and Nripdhwoj Niraula delivered the verdict on Friday in favour of the Thapa faction.

The dispute dates back to a special general convention held in mid-January 2026, which elected Gagan Thapa as party president. Challenging the outcome, the Sher Bahadur Deuba faction approached the Election Commission, which initially granted recognition to the Thapa-led group. The Deuba faction later moved the Supreme Court on January 18, 2026.

Last month, the Thapa faction published the schedule for the party’s 15th general convention. In response, the Deuba faction filed another petition at the Supreme Court seeking to block its implementation.

Tensions within the party escalated after the central working committee elected from the 14th general convention in mid-December 2025 expired, triggering a dispute over whether the next general convention should be held before or after the March 5 elections.

The Thapa faction went on to hold a special general convention ahead of the polls. During the elections, Nepali Congress candidates contested the proportional representation system under the signature of then-party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, while first-past-the-post candidates ran under Thapa’s signature.

Following the party’s defeat in the elections, Thapa tendered his resignation, which was rejected later by the central working committee. He has since continued to lead the party.

Purna Bahadur Khadka—appointed party's acting president by Deuba—has been issuing statements using the party letterhead in that capacity, a move disputed within the party.

The party’s disciplinary committee on Wednesday sought clarification from Khadka, giving him seven days to respond. Khadka rejected the move, calling it “ridiculous” and saying he would not respond, as parallel activities within the party continue.