KATHMANDU: The Deuba faction of the Nepali Congress (NC) met Friday afternoon at the Golfutar residence of former Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka to discuss recent provincial gatherings and map out their upcoming strategy.

The meeting comes as the party’s midnight deadline to update active memberships ahead of the 15th General Convention expires tonight.

According to former Vice President Bimalendra Nidhi, the discussions are heavily focused on organizing a national gathering following recent conclaves across all seven provinces.

“There are ongoing discussions about organizing a national gathering now that the provincial meetings are complete,” Nidhi said. “This meeting will take the necessary decisions regarding that plan.”

The Koirala faction did not participate in Friday’s meeting, signaling a shift from June 14, when leader Shekhar Koirala aligned with the Deuba group during the Koshi Province gathering.

Thursday saw preliminary meetings between centrist leader Koirala and host Purna Bahadur Khadka.

Meanwhile, NC General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire, representing the party establishment, previously held exploratory talks with Khadka, Koirala, and Krishna Prasad Sitaula, though no further dialogue has occurred since.

As internal friction over the membership criteria persists, the party’s Membership Management Committee has scheduled an emergency meeting for 5:00 PM Friday.

Acting Chief Secretary Krishna Dulal noted that the committee is expected to make critical decisions regarding the update process.

The ongoing dispute stems from the refusal of both the Deuba and Koirala factions to participate in the membership update system, following their absence from the party’s recent special general convention.