Leaders aligned with the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led Nepali Congress have decided to pursue legal and constitutional remedies against the Election Commission’s decision recognising the Gagan Thapa-led party leadership.

The meeting, convened by the faction’s acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka, criticised the constitutional body’s decision and agreed to seek legal, constitutional and political measures against it. The faction’s spokesperson, Prakash Sharan Mahat, said the Election Commission’s decision was against the party statute and the constitution.

“As the decision of the commission goes against the party statute and the constitution, we have decided to seek legal remedies,” Mahat said after the meeting. “We have also decided to oppose it politically.”

He said that the meeting decided to challenge it at Supreme Court on Sunday.

Senior leaders including Shekhar Koirala, Ramesh Lekhak, Krishna Sitaula, Balkrishna Khand, and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki were present at the meeting.

The Election Commission on Friday granted legal recognition to the new central committee of the Nepali Congress led by Gagan Thapa, who was elected party president through a special general convention.