Founded in Calcutta in 1947 as the Nepali National Congress and subsequently unified with the Nepal Praja Parishad and Nepal Democratic Congress in 1949, the Nepali Congress (NC) is not merely the country's oldest democratic party; it represents a cornerstone of modern Nepal's political, social and constitutional consciousness. Nurtured by the sacrifices, integrity and hard work of Bishweshwar Prasad (BP) Koirala, Iron Man Ganeshman Singh, Subarna Shumsher Rana and the ascetic statesman Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the party helped overthrow the 104-year autocratic Rana regime through the 1950 (2007 BS) revolution. In the historic 1959 (2015 BS) general elections, it secured a two-thirds majority to form Nepal’s first democratically elected government under BP Koirala. Following King Mahendra’s royal coup in 1960 (2017 BS), the party kept the banner of democracy flying through imprisonment, self-exile, underground resistance and daring acts such as the plane hijacking.
BP Koirala’s philosophy of "Democratic Socialism" was never intended as an ornamental textbook theory. His guiding principle—that when drafting the national budget at the Planning Commission, policymakers should look at the framed picture of a poor farmer tilling the land and design policies to improve that farmer's life—emotionally anchored ordinary citizens to democracy. At key historical turning points, including the restoration of multiparty democracy through the 1990 (2046 BS) People's Movement, the 1999 (2056 BS) elections and Girija Prasad Koirala’s decisive leadership during the 2006 (2062/63 BS) movement, the Nepali Congress played an institutional role. The movement brought the decade-long Maoist insurgency into the peaceful democratic mainstream through the 12-point understanding and eventually paved the way for a Federal Democratic Republic through the Constituent Assembly. Over time, however, this party, laden with historical prestige and sacrifice, succumbed to unprincipled power dynamics, personal ambition and institutional paralysis.
The Deuba Era’s Decline
Having served five terms as Prime Minister and two terms as party president, Sher Bahadur Deuba presided over an era of disappointment and frustration for hundreds of thousands of dedicated grassroots party workers. For cadres schooled in BP’s ideological clarity and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai’s austere simplicity, Deuba’s style of leadership dealt a blow to the party's institutional integrity.
Internal democracy within the party was largely neutralized. Policy, ideology, civic concerns and national interests were sidelined in favour of parliamentary arithmetic and factional patronage. From local units to provincial and federal elections, dedicated workers who had spent decades serving the party and enduring imprisonment were sidelined. Instead, electoral tickets were handed to businessmen, intermediaries, cronies and relatives.
To preserve the prime ministerial position, unprincipled alliances and unnatural electoral pacts were forged with communist parties. This undermined the self-respect of generations of supporters who had remained steadfast voters for the Tree symbol. Crucial sister wings, such as the Nepal Student Union (NSU), Tarun Dal and Nepal Mahila Sangh, remained under ad hoc committees for years, stunting the organic rise of emerging leaders.
Gen Z and Political Change
The new generation, raised in the digital era and represented by Generation Z, grew weary of entrenched party cartels, systemic corruption, dynastic nepotism, economic stagnation and political apathy. As hundreds of thousands of young people migrated to Gulf and Western countries, an intense demand for change emerged within the country. Against this backdrop of public discontent, the 15th General Convention held at Kathmandu’s Khula Manch marked a decisive turning point in the party's trajectory.
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Gagan Kumar Thapa, who emerged through student politics in the Nepal Student Union and faced sedition charges during the 2006 movement for openly demanding a republic, led a statutory challenge against institutional encirclement. Invoking Article 17 of the party statute and securing the written support of more than 54 percent of convention delegates, he pursued institutional legitimacy and statutory validation through a Special General Convention.
With more than 7,700 delegates in attendance, the convention elected Gagan Thapa as president, breaking the party free from the inertia of the Deuba era. Thapa advanced statutory revisions that guaranteed 21 Central Committee seats for youths under 35 and secured institutional representation for subject-matter experts, the diaspora, labour groups and marginalized communities.
Lamichhane’s Call for Maturity
Among the invited guests at the inaugural session of the 15th General Convention, the presence of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane generated the greatest public interest, curiosity and tension. The recent political backdrop had been contentious. During the power-sharing arrangement between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, Gagan Thapa had launched direct, relentless and sharp attacks against Rabi Lamichhane from the parliamentary rostrum and public platforms over cooperative fraud cases. Demanding parliamentary obstruction and claiming to possess "irrefutable proof of Rabi Lamichhane’s involvement in cooperative embezzlement," Thapa's campaign subjected Lamichhane to extensive legal, administrative and political scrutiny, as well as severe public pressure. Observers across the political spectrum anticipated that Lamichhane might use the Congress platform to retaliate, air his grievances or launch sarcastic attacks against Thapa.
Instead, addressing the gathering at Khula Manch, Rabi Lamichhane displayed restraint, patience and statesmanship. Setting aside past personal accusations, grievances and hostility, he delivered a measured address that honoured the historical legacy of the Nepali Congress. Touching upon the distortions of the Deuba era and the internal divisions within the Congress, Lamichhane made a reflective remark that caught the attention of the dais and thousands of party workers: "Had the Nepali Congress been free of these distortions, this oppression, this culture of sidelining honest workers to shelter middlemen, and these unprincipled compromises that sacrificed core ideology for power-sharing, I too would be standing here today as a dedicated soldier of the Nepali Congress, carrying the flag of the Tree symbol."
Lamichhane’s observation reflected the shared sentiments of countless energetic and patriotic young people who had drifted away from the party during Deuba’s tenure. Even as Gagan Thapa, who had pushed hard for investigations against him, assumed the party presidency, Lamichhane refrained from pettiness, extended warm congratulations, kept the door open for democratic collaboration and called for constructive competition among emerging leaders to rebuild the country.
Lessons for Gagan Thapa
Lamichhane’s address at Khula Manch presents Gagan Thapa and the broader Nepali Congress with an opportunity for serious self-examination. The poise, resilience and magnanimity displayed by the chairman of a relatively young four-year-old party offer important lessons for the newly elected president of a century-old institution.
National Agenda Above Retribution: Using the legislative floor to launch character attacks before investigations are concluded, in pursuit of cheap populist gains, is unsustainable. Despite facing severe administrative pressure, Lamichhane did not allow personal bitterness to derail the national dialogue. Thapa must shift his focus from seeking to dismantle opponents to outperforming them through a coherent vision and verifiable results.
Composure and Public Decorum: Engaging with sharp critics through poise and dignity rather than agitation is a hallmark of mature leadership. Lamichhane opted for reason and self-respect over anger. A leader seeking to modernize the Nepali Congress must move away from outrage-driven politics and cultivate the patience to listen to and respect adversaries.
Acknowledging the New Generation's Mandate: The rise of new political entities is no accident; it represents an organic reaction against political entitlement. Instead of dismissing newer parties as inexperienced anomalies, the Congress leadership must recognize why and how these platforms have earned public trust so quickly.
A Roadmap for Revival
Gagan Thapa’s rise marks a significant generational transition. However, assuming office is merely the beginning; the real test lies ahead. To rebuild the institutional integrity and public credibility eroded during the Deuba era, Thapa must deliver on several key fronts:
Modernizing BP’s Socialism: Reinterpreting historical socialist ideals to align with modern technology, the digital economy, mechanized agriculture and enterprise. The state must provide comprehensive social security in healthcare and education while maintaining an ecosystem that fosters private-sector innovation.
Implementing Primary Elections: Dismantling internal factional patronage by selecting candidates through direct voting by active members at the ward and constituency levels.
Uncompromising Governance: Taking a proactive stance on impartial investigations into major corruption scandals, regardless of political affiliation. Ending unnatural pre-election alliances to ensure that the party contests elections on its own merit.
Constructive Engagement with Gen Z and Emerging Forces: Attracting younger generations through policy implementation and tangible opportunities rather than repetitive rhetoric. Maintaining healthy competition alongside cooperation with emerging parties such as the RSP on constitutional preservation, good governance and the rule of law.
Both Lamichhane’s restraint on stage and Thapa’s assumption of leadership with the backing of grassroots delegates offer important lessons for contemporary Nepali politics. To lift the party out of its past stagnation, Thapa must prove himself not merely an effective speaker but also an inclusive, composed and visionary statesman.
Towards Constructive Collaboration
The Nepali Congress faces a crucial test under its new leadership. Beyond rebuilding the party’s internal structures and restoring public confidence, Gagan Thapa must demonstrate that the NC can play a constructive role in national politics. Rather than allowing political rivalries to deepen instability, the party should engage with the elected government on issues of national interest, constitutional protection, the rule of law and public welfare.
The challenge for Thapa is to translate the mandate for change into meaningful institutional and political reforms. Reconnecting with younger voters, restoring the confidence of grassroots cadres and upholding the party’s democratic and socialist principles will be essential to that effort. Lamichhane’s address at Khula Manch also underscored the need for political leaders to rise above personal grievances and prioritize constructive engagement. Whether the NC can turn this moment of transition into lasting renewal will depend on its leadership’s ability to match its promises with action.
