The day after the Supreme Court recognized the Central Working Committee elected from the special general convention as official, an informal meeting was held between the leaders of the factions of former Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and former acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka on Saturday. One of the topics discussed in the meeting was the registration of a separate party. However, the informal discussion on Saturday did not reach a conclusion. Based on the same discussion, leader Khadka has called a meeting of his party's office bearers and central members elected from the 14th general convention for Sunday to discuss further and get their opinions.

The special general convention held on 27-29 Pus had elected a 134-member Central Working Committee led by Gagan Thapa. After the Election Commission recognized it on 2 Magh, Deuba and Khadka filed a writ petition against it. However, the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the decision of the commission and dismissed the writ petition filed by Deuba and Khadka.

After the court did not give a favorable decision to them, Deuba-Khadka and his pro-party leaders are engaged in discussions to form a separate party. Former president Deuba is not in the country. He had gone to Singapore before the 21 Falgun elections for health treatment. His wife Arju Deuba Rana also reached there via India. The government has issued an arrest warrant against them for an investigation into money laundering. Deuba, on the other hand, is activating his group from there.

Deuba's pro-party leader Prakasharan Mahat says that although the Supreme Court's decision was unexpected for them, they have not reached the conclusion of forming a separate party. He says that during the ongoing discussions on various options, some leaders raised the issue of what to do if there is no atmosphere of unity and only then did the topic of forming a separate party come up.

The Congress was previously divided in 2059. Deuba, who was the Prime Minister at the time, had separated from the Congress to preserve his power and authority and founded the Nepali Congress Democratic Party under his own leadership. Now, some leaders from the Deuba faction say that a new party needs to be founded to preserve its existence.

Former office bearers participated in the discussion called by Khadka on Saturday afternoon. Some leaders, including Prakash Man Singh, Bimalendra Nidhi, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, are not in favor of unification by accepting the central working committee that came from the special general convention. Some leaders also argue that it will be easier to form a separate party now and then, and then, form a respectable unification. But after the court's decision, a strong vote has emerged in favor of unification within the Deuba faction. Leader Shekhar Koirala's faction has already separated from this group.

Leader Mahat says that they are also in favor of unification. He says that Chairman Thapa and the leaders from his faction should take the initiative for a respectful unification. 'So far, there has been no initiative for unification from Gaganji.' Even though a decision has been made judicially, the party is in trouble politically. The special general convention was not held with the participation of all. The majority of leaders and cadres are outside. Therefore, a separate mechanism should be created so that the upcoming 15th general convention is free, impartial and with the participation of all,' he said. 'If the establishment is ready to hold the general convention by creating such an independent mechanism, the path to unity can be opened.'

Mahat said that there was no further discussion on the proposal he had put forward because the establishment side did not take the initiative for unity. 'There was no further discussion because we said it would not make sense just by talking,' he added. 'Now whether we will unite the party or lead it towards division, it is in Gaganji's hands.'

President Thapa had tried to meet former acting president Khadka and another leader Shekhar Koirala on Saturday. Leaders close to him said that Khadka had indicated that he would meet only after consulting with the leaders of his group.

The Thapa-led Central Working Committee does not have representation from the Deuba-Khadka and Koirala factions. Thapa, however, plans to have them represented in the Central Working Committee through nominations. Before that, he plans to hold discussions with all the leaders on the disgruntled side.

General Secretary Pradeep Poudel says that no one should view the court's decision as a victory or defeat. 'We will not leave any leader out.' If the mutual discussions are positive, we will move forward accordingly, if not, we will bring those friends who want to join us to the Central Working Committee,' he said. According to the statute passed by the special general convention, President Thapa can nominate 61 people to the Central Working Committee.

Shyam Ghimire, a leader close to Khadka, said that there are only three options after the Supreme Court's decision. According to him, the first option is party division. The second option is to face the 15th general convention in Asoj and remain silent in the third. ‘There is no public interest in the Congress now. The party has become weak after the elections. I and many friends do not agree with breaking this and forming another party, and a person who has built a moral image like Purna Bahadur Dai should not embark on the path of party division,’ says Ghimire. ‘I have also heard some friends say that by dividing now, a respectful unity can be formed later. We should not go for that. It would be appropriate to integrate now and go to the 15th general convention.’

Ghimire says that the establishment party should immediately hold discussions by bringing a model of unity for respectful participation. Another leader close to Khadka, Ramhari Khatiwada, says that the establishment party should also include the 44 percent who did not participate in the special general convention. ‘Now there is no possibility of forming another party by registering a new party. It should not be formed. The results were terrible because his own party was not organized,' he said, 'Gaganji should now say that I am the president of the entire Congress, not just the special general convention.'

A solid basis for unity has not been established with leader Shekhar Koirala, who did not support the special general convention. Jeevan Pariyar, a leader close to Koirala, said that they would not participate in the meeting called by former acting president Khadka. The Koirala faction has stopped participating after the meetings called by Khadka on 23 and 24 Chaitra to review the election.