The debate within the Deuba faction of the Congress party has become complicated as to whether to accept the Supreme Court's decision and stand in favor of party unity or register a separate party.

In the Sunday meeting of the Deuba group led by the then acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka, most of the leaders stood in favor of party unity.

After the majority of the leaders stood in favor of party unity, some leaders, including former office bearers, who were planning to register a separate party, have hesitated for the time being. They had previously planned to register a new party as an alternative rather than 'bending'.

Despite legal recognition, former office bearers including Prakash Man Singh, Bimalendra Nidhi, Krishna Prasad Sitaula had discussed the option of holding a separate 15th general convention, saying that the political battle with the group supporting the special general convention was still ongoing.

However, Nidhi did not clearly open up about this in the Sunday meeting. Sitaula and Singh only listened to the participating leaders, they did not speak. Nidhi, on the other hand, reiterated his statement in the meeting that he would not accept the self-proclaimed president and central working committee from the special general convention.

According to leader Min Bishwakarma, today's meeting has accepted the court's decision with a critical eye. He said that the Supreme Court itself has reached a conclusion against the precedent established earlier, the constitution, the law and the party statute, and he stood in favor of accepting the decision. 'Despite many grounds for disagreement, we have come to accept the decision for the dignity and respect of an independent judiciary,' he added. 'Serious disagreements have been expressed in the decision and discussions are also underway on whether to go to court again for review.'

The special general convention held at Bhrikutimandap on 27-30 Pus had elected a 134-member central working committee led by Gagan Thapa. After the Election Commission decided to recognize it on 20 January, former President Sher Bahadur Deuba and then Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka filed a writ petition in the court against it on 20 January. The Supreme Court had dismissed the same writ petition last Friday and ruled to recognize the special general convention.

At the beginning of the meeting, then Acting President Khadka had informed that the establishment party had not had any dialogue or discussion with him for unity. As soon as the meeting ended, President Thapa and Khadka had already spoken. General Secretary Pradeep Poudel said that President Thapa had spoken with Khadka on Sunday evening for the greater unity of the party.

Poudel said that the justification for the explanation taken from Khadka earlier had also ended. The Central Disciplinary Committee had asked Khadka to provide an explanation within 7 days last Wednesday, saying that he had engaged in parallel activities in the party. 'With the court's decision, the relevance of the explanation has also ended. There is no situation where action will be taken against anyone now.' We will move forward by including everyone, the chairman has already taken the initiative in that,' Poudel said. He said that the Central Disciplinary Committee meeting to be held on Monday will render the clarification taken from Khadka null and void.

Meanwhile, in the meeting, Khadka accused the Election Commission of giving a decision contrary to the precedent, constitution and law that it had set in the past without even correcting the Supreme Court's mistake. He said that the court has not been impartial not only in the issue related to the Congress dispute but also in the issue of the restoration of the House of Representatives.

Another leader Prakash Sharan Mahat has said that party unity can only be achieved if respect, consensus and coexistence are accepted. He has expressed the view that an independent organizing committee should be formed to maintain unity between both parties and go to the 15th general convention. After listening to everyone's views, leader Kalyan Gurung said that the other party is not in favor of holding a separate party or a separate general convention. According to him, even though the legal validity is in favor of the special general convention, the political issue remains, so it has been decided to convene at the central and provincial levels to take it to the grassroots level. ‘There is no plan to hold a separate general convention or register a separate party. We will unite within the party. For that, we have political issues - active membership, statute amendment, participation issues,’ Gurung said. ‘We will go all over the country with these issues while competing in the 15th general convention.’ After the central-level gathering in Kathmandu, provincial-level gatherings will be held, but the date will be decided later, he said.

Shyam Ghimire, a leader close to Khadka, suggested that the other side had three options in the meeting. ‘If the party does not stand in favor of unity even after the court’s decision, the first option is to form a separate party,’ he said, ‘accepting a second special general convention and taking a break from politics.’ We should not go for the option of forming a separate party.' Pointing to Khadka, Sitaula, Singh and Nidhi sitting on the stage, he said, 'If you cannot get along, you have crossed 60 years of age, leave politics and take a break.'

About 20 people had expressed their views in the meeting. Most of the leaders had said that it was contradictory for the leaders who contested the elections under the signature of President Gagan Thapa to now reject the same working committee. Another leader, Bishwakarma, said that the 15th general convention schedule brought by the Deuba-led working committee for 28-31 Baisakh and the special general convention supporters for 16-19 Asoj should be adjusted and made into one.

'Unity can be maintained if the two schedules can be combined and made into one. The main responsibility of the president is to maintain unity by not allowing two general conventions,' he said.