Kathmandu – Disputes have escalated within the Nepali Congress regarding recent disciplinary actions. The faction led by Dr. Shekhar Koirala has concluded that the party’s Disciplinary Committee’s recent actions against certain leaders were not in accordance with due process.

A meeting of the Koirala faction held today at its contact office in Bishalnagar rejected the legitimacy of the committee’s decision. Leader Rajendra Bajgain, who was present at the meeting, stated that, as per the party statute, disciplinary action must be concluded within six months of receiving a complaint. He noted that this time frame had not been followed.

According to him, “The statute clearly sets a time limit for taking disciplinary action. The timeframe is defined strictly—even down to hours and minutes. Since the committee’s decision does not align with that provision, we have concluded that it is not legally valid.”

Another leader present at the meeting, Arjun Narsingh KC, alleged that the disciplinary action was biased and discriminatory. “Prominent leaders with significant contributions have been punished based on factional interests. Any disciplinary decision made outside the boundaries of the statute is unacceptable,” KC stated.

According to the Shekhar faction, while they stand for party discipline, any decision driven by personal or group interests cannot be accepted. The meeting also discussed the possibility of the affected leaders filing appeals for a review of the decision, after which a larger gathering would be organized.

Shekhar Koirala informed the meeting that two members of the Disciplinary Committee—Sanjay Gautam and Rajiv Koirala—had written a ‘note of dissent’ against the decision, which, according to the faction, raises further questions about the legitimacy of the disciplinary action.

The Nepali Congress recently took disciplinary action against 18 party leaders and cadres, accusing them of violating party discipline. The accused were said to have acted in ways that undermined candidates supported by the party and its electoral alliance in the 2084 BS general elections or upcoming potential by-elections. As a result, they were expelled for varying durations—one year, six months, or three months.

Key figures punished include former Gandaki Province Minister Kumar Khadka, Lumbini Provincial General Secretary Bikram Khanal, and Khotang District President Bishnu Kumar Rai (each expelled for one year), as well as former Kaski District President Krishna KC (expelled for three months).