Kathmandu, Jan. 16 -- The Election Commission on Friday decided to recognise the Gagan Thapa-led Nepali Congress as the legitimate party.

A meeting of the commission's officials took the decision, a senior election body official told the Post.

The groups led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and Thapa had submitted separate claims at the commission, each asserting itself as the legitimate party.

The split happened on Wednesday, when the special general convention elected Thapa, the general secretary, as party president. The Deuba faction, however, has termed the special general convention "illegitimate" and against the party charter.

After the commission granted official recognition to Gagan's faction, the Deuba group staged protests, chanting sl...