Kathmandu — With the upcoming Congress general convention still undecided, efforts are underway to increase polarization within the party for leadership.

Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba is retiring from the executive role from the upcoming general convention due to the provision in the constitution that a leader cannot serve more than two terms. With his retirement, there is a possibility that the traditional faction within the Congress will break down and a new polarization will begin.

President Deuba has not yet prepared his successor. Party leadership aspirants are trying to get his support and endorsement. Within the establishment faction, Congress Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakash Man Singh, and Shashank Koirala are in the race to get Deuba’s support. However, there is rumor in Congress circles that Deuba is leaning towards other party leaders Shekhar Koirala and General Secretary Gagan Thapa, who have a hold on the organization.

On the establishment side, leaders including Balkrishna Khand, NP Saud, Prakash Sharan Mahat, Mohan Bahadur Basnet have started showing positive goodwill towards Shekhar Koirala. Deuba, on the other hand, is putting forward General Secretary Thapa for the decisive role in national politics and in discussions.

It is not clear who his choice is between Koirala and Thapa. But the clash between these two leaders has also started advocating for a new polarization within the party. The main clash between Koirala and Thapa was seen in Koshi Province recently.

Party leaders Hridayram Thani claims that there will be a new kind of polarization in the party after Deuba retires from the 15th general convention. ‘Yesterday’s group may disintegrate. New types of factions will form. The noise of the old group will no longer exist. The scars of that are starting to appear,’ Thani said, ‘It is not certain who will be Deuba’s successor from the establishment side. Anything can happen in politics. Therefore, we suggest that Shekhar koirala should move forward wisely.’

Koirala has already publicly announced that he will be the presidential candidate in the 15th General Convention. General Secretary Thapa has been saying that his claim to leadership will be natural even if he has not announced it publicly.

While there is a clash between Koirala and Thapa for leadership, some leaders say that it is not clear whether Deuba’s initial push for Koirala and recent push for Thapa is for the party’s successor or a strategy to secure the path to power after 18 months as agreed with the UML.

However,Deuba seems to have become more comfortable within the party as the relationship between Koirala and Thapa has deteriorated. The ongoing internal tug-of-war between these two leaders is certain to lead to a new polarization in the party.