It finally happened. For anyone watching the slow-motion car crash of Nepali politics over the last few months, the news hitting the wires this Friday, January 16, 2026, feels less like a surprise and more like an inevitable explosion. The Nepali Congress, the "Grand Old Party" that has survived coups, kings, and insurgencies, has officially split into two rival factions.
This isn't just another boardroom argument in Sanepa. It’s a full-blown identity crisis.
As of this morning, the Nepal news of today is dominated by the image of Gagan Thapa—once the poster child of youth rebellion and now the newly elected president of his own faction—marching into the Election Commission. He’s not there for a tea party. He’s there to claim the "Tree" symbol and prove that his "Special General Convention" (SGC) is the only legitimate version of the party left.
Meanwhile, the old guard, led by Sher Bahadur Deuba, is calling the whole thing a circus. Honestly, it’s a mess.
The Gagan Thapa Gamble: Why the Split Matters Now
Politics in Nepal has always been a game of musical chairs played by the same three or four men for thirty years. But the 2026 elections are different. With only 49 days left until the March 5 polls, this split has sent shockwaves through the country.
Thapa, along with Bishwa Prakash Sharma, basically bet the farm on a "reinvention" narrative. They’ve been riding the wave of Gen Z anger that’s been simmering since those massive protests last year. You remember the ones—the ones where the established leaders were basically told to go home or else.
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On Wednesday, Thapa was elected party president by the SGC. By Thursday afternoon, he was at the Election Commission presenting his papers to Chief Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari. His argument? "The Congress is not anyone's private company."
It’s a bold line. But Deuba isn't going anywhere without a fight. His faction has already suspended Thapa and Sharma for five years. They claim the SGC was illegal and against the party charter. So, we’ve got two different groups of people both claiming to be the real "Nepali Congress."
The Legal Battle for the Tree
If you’re a voter, you’re probably wondering: who gets the symbol?
The Election Commission is in a tight spot. Legally, legitimacy usually follows the majority of the General Convention. Thapa claims he has 54% of the elected representatives. If that holds up, he might actually win the legal battle. But if the commission drags its feet, the March 5 elections could be deferred, or worse, end up in a Supreme Court nightmare.
Beyond the Capital: A Deadly Morning in Sunsari
While Kathmandu is busy with political drama, the rest of the country is dealing with much grimmer realities. Early this morning, a cargo truck carrying marble overturned on the Postal Highway in Bhokraha Narsingh Rural Municipality, Sunsari.
It was a tragedy. Five people died on the spot.
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Three others are currently fighting for their lives in the hospital. This isn't just "another accident." It’s a reminder of the crumbling state of the Postal Highway and the lack of safety oversight for heavy cargo. While politicians fight over who gets to sit in the Singha Durbar, the infrastructure that regular people use is literally killing them.
The Economy: Green Shoots or Just Tall Grass?
The IMF just dropped its report on Nepal for 2026, and it’s a classic "good news, bad news" situation.
- The Good: Foreign exchange reserves are sitting at nearly $20 billion. That’s enough to cover almost a year of imports.
- The Bad: Domestic demand is still dead in the water.
Inflation is technically under control—below the Nepal Rastra Bank's target—but if you ask anyone buying vegetables at Kalimati market, they’ll tell you things don't feel "under control." Investor confidence is shaky. The private sector is wary, mostly because they don't know who’s going to be in charge of the country two months from now.
Real GDP growth is estimated at around 4.3%, which is better than the 2% we saw in 2023, but it’s still not enough to stop the brain drain. Thousands of young Nepalis are still lining up at the airport every single day.
Bullfights and Football: A Break from the Chaos
If you need a break from the Nepal news of today regarding politics, there’s actually some life happening elsewhere. Yesterday was Maghe Sankranti, and the traditional bullfights in Dhading were as intense as ever. We saw 14 pairs of oxen clashing in Mulpani and another 10 pairs in Laigaun. It’s a brutal, centuries-old tradition that still draws massive crowds despite the modernization of the country.
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On the sports front, the National Football League kicked off this week at the ANFA Complex.
- Friends Club pulled off a comeback win against Kankre Bihar Club.
- Church Boys United (the reigning champs) were held to a 1-1 draw by Shree Bhagawati.
It’s actually kinda cool to see local football getting some corporate backing. BitCasino and NepalBetPro are pouring money into new jerseys and prize pools. It’s a bit of a weird mix—traditional bullfights in the hills and crypto-backed football in the city—but that’s Nepal in 2026 for you.
What Happens Next?
The next 72 hours are critical. Candidate nominations for the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system are scheduled for January 19. If the Election Commission hasn't decided who the "real" Congress is by then, we are looking at total chaos.
Actionable Insights for Today:
- For Voters: If you’re registered, keep a close eye on the Election Commission's official portal. The "Tree" symbol might be tied up in court, which means your local candidate might be running under a different banner or as an independent.
- For Travelers: If you're heading toward Sunsari or using the Postal Highway, be extremely cautious. The recent rains and heavy marble transport have made certain sections of the road unstable.
- For Small Business Owners: With the IMF reporting "subdued domestic demand," now might not be the time for high-risk expansion. Keep an eye on the central bank’s upcoming moves regarding interest rates, which are expected to stay low to encourage credit.
The split of the Nepali Congress isn't just a headline; it's the end of an era. Whether Gagan Thapa’s "reinvention" works or Deuba’s "discipline" holds, the political map of Nepal has been permanently redrawn today.
Check back for updates as the Election Commission prepares to release its initial ruling on the party's legitimacy.
Next steps for staying informed:
Monitor the official Election Commission of Nepal website for the January 19 nomination list to see which faction is recognized. If you are in the Sunsari area, avoid the Postal Highway near Bhokraha Narsingh until the accident site is fully cleared and assessed by road authorities. For the latest on the National League, the next matches are scheduled for tomorrow at the ANFA Complex starting at 11:00 AM.