The Election Commission on Friday decided to recognise the Gagan Thapa-led Nepali Congress as the legitimate party.

A meeting of the commission’s officials took the decision, a senior election body official told the Post.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said the commission relied on three key grounds to decide on updating the party’s details.

First, the Nepali Congress statute allows 40 percent of general convention delegates to demand a special general convention, and the commission found that such a convention had been held as mandated.

Second, the statute clearly establishes general convention delegates as the supreme authority of the party, making their decisions binding.

Third, the commission noted that there was no recorded dissent over the demand for a special general convention, confirming that it was convened in line with the statute. Bhandari added that the dissatisfied side may approach the court.

The groups led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and Thapa had submitted separate claims at the commission, each asserting itself as the legitimate party.

The split happened on Wednesday, when the special general convention elected Thapa, the general secretary, as party president. The Deuba faction, however, has termed the special general convention “illegitimate” and against the party charter.

After the commission granted official recognition to Gagan’s faction, the Deuba group staged protests, chanting slogans in opposition. Police have been mobilised in the area to maintain order.

The faction led by Thapa, elected through the party’s special general convention, had filed an application to update the party’s details, while the Deuba faction submitted a counter-application opposing it.

Speaking to journalists after the decision, Purna Bahadur Khadka of the Deuba camp said the faction rejects the Election Commission’s ruling and will fight it on legal, political and constitutional grounds.

Congress Vice-President Bishwa Prakash Sharma said the party will move forward by accommodating leaders and cadres who were left out. Addressing supporters through a Facebook post after the Election Commission recognised the special general convention, he said the party is now preparing to enter the election race.

“The Nepali Congress has returned in a new way and is heading into the elections. We will be on the ground day and night with you,” Sharma said, adding that those excluded from the central committee will be included and taken along. He said the party would accelerate the candidate selection process in the coming days.

Sharma also said the party will work to implement a system that bars anyone from becoming prime minister more than twice and move towards a governance model that ensures stability for five years.