KATHMANDU, Jan 11: Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Gagan Thapa on Sunday said that the internal competition within the party should not be mistaken for a struggle for positions, stressing that it is fundamentally a struggle over ideology and direction.
Addressing the party’s second Special General Convention, Thapa said outsiders may perceive the developments within the NC as infighting, but argued that the debate goes beyond personalities or chairs. “This is not a struggle for power; it is a struggle of ideas,” he said.
Referring to the Gen Z–led protests of September 8 and 9, Thapa said the demonstrations should not be dismissed as vandalism or disorder. Instead, he described them as an expression of deep public frustration directed at the government and the parliament, institutions the NC itself was leading at the time.
“The anger was against the government, and we were the government. It was against parliament, and we were the parliament,” Thapa said, adding that public resentment stemmed from perceptions that some leaders were living lavish lives even after the monarchy had been abolished.
Will internal disputes in NC come to an end?
He said the party must not treat the protests as an isolated incident but as a moment for introspection. “Sometimes we must look within our own house, take ownership and ask ourselves where we went wrong,” he said, explaining that the special convention was convened precisely to seek answers to such questions.
Thapa said the convention was meant to reconnect the party with the country and its people, and to redefine what a political party should stand for following the September 8 and 9 protests. He stressed that all leaders, regardless of position, are fundamentally equal cadres of the party, and that those in lower ranks often carry greater responsibility.
According to Thapa, party members had openly questioned the party’s ideology, its alliances, and its political choices and demanded change through dialogue. He said calls for a regular general convention or a special convention was a legitimate right of party members. “What is so difficult about honoring that right?” he asked.
Rejecting claims that the ongoing process was aimed at elevating specific individuals, Thapa said the struggle was not about anyone coming to power. “Policies may change, leaders may change—but this is not something I sought, nor do I know where it will ultimately lead,” he said, adding that he would abide by whatever decision the Special General Convention takes.
He emphasized that the NC is not a party of silence or submission. “We are not a party of slaves or lifeless bodies; we are a party of living human beings who speak and question,” Thapa said, arguing that only through questioning can answers be found.
Thapa also revealed that he had spoken with party President Sher Bahadur Deuba on the morning of September 10, urging restraint within the party. He said he had proposed that Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka lead the party through the convention, reiterating that neither he nor General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma was seeking any position.
“I may not carry the bloodline of BP Koirala or Ganesh Man Singh,” Thapa said, “But I carry B.P.’s ideology and Ganesh Man’s courage.”
Thapa said political struggles often require sacrifice. “Sometimes we must lose one battle to win another. Sometimes we must be ready to burn ourselves so the flame can stay alive,” he said, indicating that Monday's convention is likely to choose party office bearers.
