The Nepali Congress is grappling with internal divisions following a high-profile raid last week at the Tribhuvan International Airport’s Immigration Office, which has implicated senior officials and cast a shadow of doubt over Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

As the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) looks into the alleged manipulation of visit visas, a faction in the ruling party is demanding Lekhak’s resignation on moral grounds, while others, including the party establishment, are defending him, exposing a growing rift in the party leadership.

The controversy erupted after the CIAA, the constitutional anti-graft body, raided the TIA Immigration Office on May 22, based on complaints of visit visa manipulation. During the raid, the CIAA detained Immigration chief and joint secretary, Tirtharaj Bhattarai, and seized vital documents.

Following Bhattarai’s arrest, the CIAA has also begun investigating staff from the home minister’s secretariat, raising questions about the home minister’s moral responsibility in the case.

Bhattarai was taken into the CIAA’s custody a day after being transferred from the airport to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The anti-graft body claims to have uncovered evidence indicating that individuals were sent abroad on visit visas in exchange for large sums of money, in collusion with Bhattarai.

Bhattarai’s transfer to the home ministry while he was under CIAA investigation has fuelled suspicions of higher authorities’ involvement in the scam.

The agency has not publicly shared any information of its ongoing investigation, but some media reports, citing unnamed sources at the CIAA, allege that officials from Lekhak’s secretariat are also responsible.

In response, the opposition Rastriya Swatantra Party has officially demanded Minister Lekhak’s resignation. However, within the Congress itself, a rift has emerged: the establishment faction is trying to shield Lekhak, whereas the rival faction led by Shekhar Koirala insists that Lekhak should step down to ensure an impartial investigation. Lekhak belongs to the establishment camp led by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Koirala has urged Home Minister Lekhak to resign on moral grounds. Speaking to journalists at Biratnagar airport on Saturday, Koirala said Lekhak should step aside to facilitate a fair investigation into the corruption case linked to the Department of Immigration.

He cited past instances where ministers had resigned to make room for a fair investigation, under moral pressure.

“As allegations have surfaced against the home minister, he should resign on ethical grounds and allow the investigation to proceed. After all, the home ministry falls under his jurisdiction,” Koirala stated.

Similarly, Congress lawmaker Rajendra Bajagain submitted a letter to party chief Deuba via Shyam Kumar Ghimire, the party’s chief whip, demanding that Lekhak be recalled from government.

Other influential leaders from the Congress dissident faction echo the call for Lekhak’s resignation.

Chandra Kanta Bhandari, a dissident leader and lawmaker, said that whether or not Lekhak is directly involved, if the staff under his command are under question, the leadership should pave the way for a fair investigation.

As calls for Lekhak’s resignation mount from the party’s opposition camp, some establishment camp leaders have come to his defence.

Senior Congress leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, speaking at a press meet in Biratnagar on Sunday, said it was wrong to demand the home minister's resignation based on the mistakes of his subordinates.

“Had he been directly accused, it would have been a different case. But the home minister should not resign on moral grounds for others’ mistakes,” Sitaula argued.

As the CIAA is already investigating, it would be wise to wait for the outcome of the investigation, Sitaula suggested.

Earlier, when Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leader and then communications minister, Gokul Baskota, was accused of involvement in a Rs700 million corruption case, he had resigned on moral grounds. Similarly, CPN (Maoist Centre) leader and then finance minister Janardan Sharma stepped down after being accused of altering budget provisions to favour a businessman. He resigned to facilitate investigation. In both cases, the ministers were directly implicated.

Reflecting on his own resignation, Baskota said moral questions are serious issues for those in public office.

“After questions were raised against me back in 2020, I resigned from the ministerial position as my conscience said I should,” Baskota told the Post.

Meanwhile, a secretariat meeting of the ruling partner CPN-UML, held at the party’s headquarters in Chyasal on Sunday, also decided that Home Minister Lekhak need not resign. After the meeting, the party’s general secretary, Shankar Pokharel, said there are separate bodies responsible for investigation.

“There are designated agencies for prosecution and investigation on such matters,” Pokharel said. “Neither the mass media nor social media has the authority to prosecute or investigate.”

Earlier, Minister for Information Technology and Communication Prithvi Subba Gurung, who is also the deputy general secretary of the party and the government spokesperson, had also stated that Home Minister Lekhak should not resign for the mistake of his staffers.

According to Min Bahadur Bishwakarma, head of the Congress’ publicity department, Lekhak will step down if the investigation demands it. However, the party has not considered his recall, Bishwakarma said.

Bishwakarma also dismissed Koirala’s demand. “Koirala asking for Lekhak’s resignation is part of his old tactic… he has continuously slammed the government and wants this coalition to break.”

Uddhab Pyakurel, who teaches sociology at Kathmandu University, said that no hasty conclusions should be drawn. Pyakurel further says that as Lekhak has vowed to answer all questions in Parliament on Tuesday, the public and the party should first hear him out.

“If the investigation reveals wrongdoing, he should step down to ensure a fair probe,” Pyakurel said. “But until then, let’s not rush to judgment before hearing his response on Tuesday.”

Speaking at a press conference on May 24, Lekhak defended himself saying, “The Ministry of Home Affairs is a vast institution with thousands of employees. At any time, a constitutional body or competent agency can initiate investigation against any employee. If one employee is being investigated, should all ministers resign? Is that the standard we want to establish?... Has that happened before?”

Congress Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka agrees with Pyakurel, saying it would be wise to first listen to Home Minister Lekhak.

The Congress has called a meeting of office bearers on Monday to discuss the issue, the national budget, and other political developments.