Kathmandu, Jan. 14 -- Nepali Congress general secretary Gagan Thapa has claimed that his faction commands a clear majority and asserted legitimacy despite disciplinary action taken against him by the establishment faction.

Addressing the closed session of the special general convention at Bhrikutimandap on Wednesday, Thapa said his group was "comfortably in the majority" and therefore represented the official party line. His remarks came shortly after the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led establishment decided to suspend Thapa, general secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma and joint-general secretary Farmullah Mansur from party membership for five years.

Thapa said he had repeatedly raised the need for reform within the central working committee but was...