KATHMANDU: The NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal has been caught in a whirlpool of internal conflict.
Instead of working in the interest of the organization and the automobile business, NADA’s office bearers have been accused of prioritizing personal ego and self-interest, tarnishing the image of the association with a legacy of five decades. The conflict has now spilled beyond the executive committee to the District Administration Office and even the courts.
The conflict flared after NADA President Karan Chaudhary failed to implement important decisions endorsed by the association’s 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Kathmandu in January. The AGM had amended the association’s statute to appoint Aakash Golchha as Senior Vice President who would be automatically elevated to the position of President in the next term.
Golchha had withdrawn his candidacy for the post of President after he was offered the post of Senior Vice President.
However, President Chaudhary not only refused to recognize Golchha as Senior Vice President but went on downgrade him to an ordinary member. His details were removed even from NADA’s official website.
The rift within NADA paved the way for the formation of a parallel body — Nepal Automobile Importers and Manufacturers Association (NAIMA).
This triggered a clear split within the association — one faction led by President Chaudhary and the other aligned with immediate past president Dhruva Thapa and Golchha. The rivalry has since escalated, with both camps engaged in boycotts, confrontations and even threats.
A few months ago, the Golchha faction threatened to smear soot on Chaudhary at the NADA office. Chaudhary openly dared them to attempt if they can. The rift also paved the way for the formation of a parallel body — Nepal Automobile Importers and Manufacturers Association (NAIMA).
That August 24 Meeting
After the successful completion of the 2025 NADA Auto Show on August 24, NADA held its executive committee meeting at the same event venue. What should have been a celebratory gathering soon turned tense and nearly descended into physical confrontation.
The meeting decided to call a special general assembly to restructure NADA into a federation. However, some executive committee members objected to the decision, questioning how an item not on the agenda could suddenly be tabled. Members from Chaudhary faction reportedly denied those aligned with Golchha the chance to speak.
“After the successful Auto Show, everyone should have been in a celebratory mood. Instead, the meeting turned so heated that some members nearly came to blows,” said one executive member.
Nine executive committee members later submitted a note of dissent against the decisions of the August 24 meeting.
The rival faction has accused President Chaudhary of running NADA like a private company — failing to convene any statute-related meetings during his 20-month term but rushing to amend the statute just before his tenure ends for personal gain.
Three days later, immediate past president Thapa, Senior Vice President Golchha, and Executive Committee members Nirakar Shrestha, Sunil Rijal, Yumuna Shrestha, Sanjay Khetan, Pradeep Man Pradhan, Sohan Shrestha and Saurabh Thapa issued a joint statement rejecting the decisions. They accused the establishment faction of forcing through a statute amendment without implementing decisions taken by the 47th AGM, tabling proposals not in the agenda items and attempting to extend the leadership’s term by calling a special assembly.
They also alleged that Executive Committee member and former Vice President Sunil Rijal was not allowed to speak, and that President Chaudhary of running NADA like a private company — failing to convene any statute-related meetings during his 20-month term but rushing to amend the statute just before his tenure ends for personal gain.
Following the August 24 meeting, NADA scheduled the special assembly for September 9. However, after Executive Committee members themselves filed complaints calling the assembly illegal, the Kathmandu District Administration Office, on September 1, ordered NADA not to hold special general assembly.
