KATHMANDU, Jan 24: Newly elected Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has vowed to transform the party and, through it, the country.
Thapa made this pledge after taking charge of office at the party’s central office in Sanepa on Friday. “We changed Congress, we will now change the nation. With this resolve, we begin a new journey. Our sole goal is the prosperity of the country,” Thapa wrote on social media.
The party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) has officially named Thapa as the prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming March 5 House of Representatives election. The proposal was put forward by Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma, supported by fellow Vice President Pushpa Bhusal, and endorsed by the committee unopposed.
Change of Guard and OBOR
This session marked the first time the newly elected CWC convened at the Sanepa office following the Special General Convention held on January 11–14, which dissolved the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led committee and elected a new leadership and office bearers.
Thapa also said the party will gradually address internal issues and resolve differences that emerged during the recent Special General Convention and candidate selection process.
He acknowledged that the Special General Convention and the subsequent distribution of election tickets had caused some dissatisfaction within the party. Thapa said he was aware of the internal disputes but vowed to take measures to settle the issues.
“I have heard the grievances of some colleagues who did not receive tickets. But let me assure you that we will soon sort out internal matters,” Thapa said.
He also outlined plans to work together to address concerns of the aggrieved leaders. “We will bring those who missed out on tickets into the Central Committee with responsibilities. But we must unite to strengthen the Nepali Congress by removing differences and misunderstandings,” President Thapa added.
NC spokesperson Devaraj Chalise said Thapa now plans to visit his electoral constituency in Sarlahi–4. Party leaders noted that nominating Thapa as the prime ministerial candidate is a key agenda of the new leadership as it prepares for the upcoming national election.
After the meeting, Thapa told journalists that the party has changed according to public sentiment through the Special General Convention, and that he will now pursue policies aimed at transforming the country’s direction. He added that the party must unite, strengthen internal coordination, and move beyond past disagreements to ensure victory in the election.
