KATHMANDU, Aug 28: Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Gagan Thapa has acknowledged that he has been in a speaking role for years and now wants to move into a role that delivers results through action.
He said that even though he continuously raises questions and criticism both inside and outside the party, his current priority is not just to speak but to work and show tangible results.
Speaking at the “Nagarik Frontline” on Wednesday, General Secretary Thapa explained that, being in a responsible position within the party, he is no longer just someone who sits on the sidelines and talks, as he did in the past.
Book by Ujwal Thapa ‘Why Nepal?’ released
He admitted that, although he has been striving for reform from within the party, he feels pain for not being able to deliver the results the public expects.
“Earlier, I used to enjoy speaking in Parliament and criticizing the government. People would say, ‘Finally, he spoke!’ and I would feel happy. But now, that no longer gives me joy. What I feel now is that I need to move into a role that delivers results through work. I have been in a speaking role for years already.”
He described himself as a person with a “rebel conscience,” even though he is part of the party’s establishment. He recalled that he has consistently fought against wrong decisions within the party and sometimes maintained his stance even by submitting a ‘dissenting note.’ “I am in a difficult position now. I am part of the establishment, but I am someone who carries a rebellious conscience,” he said.
General Secretary Thapa admitted that, as the party’s general secretary, he has not been able to work exactly as he wished, attributing this to the party’s current structural weaknesses.
However, he argued that, because only a few leaders influence decisions—from leadership selection to every major party decision—it has been difficult to carry out result-oriented work.
He said that, to make the NC a party that delivers results, he has advocated for a system in the upcoming general convention where 1.2 million active members directly elect the party president.
According to him, only such a system will make leaders accountable to members and the public, fostering a culture that prioritizes “working” over merely “speaking.”
