Kathmandu — Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has asserted that the party’s special general convention currently underway at Bhrikutimandap is legitimate and constitutionally valid, stating that the election process will not be halted despite disciplinary action taken against him and other leaders by the Sher Bahadur Deuba faction.
Speaking in an online interview following the Central Working Committee meeting held in Sanepa, Thapa said there is no authority above the party’s general convention and that the leadership emerging from the convention represents the Nepali Congress.
“There is no one above the general convention of the party. Whoever is present while the convention is in session constitutes the central committee,” Thapa said. “The process has already moved forward. It cannot be stopped now.”
Dialogue efforts failed, action driven by ‘narrative building’
Thapa said repeated efforts were made over the past two to three days to reach an understanding with the party establishment through dialogue, including discussions with Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba. However, he alleged that developments were deliberately framed to create a misleading narrative.
“Instead of solving the core issue, different stories were pushed — sometimes about announcing a prime ministerial candidate, sometimes about ticket distribution — as if we were chasing positions. That was never the reality,” he said.
According to Thapa, the core disagreement centered on leadership reform and electoral credibility, not personal ambition.
‘Chairman-led Congress cannot win public trust’
Thapa reiterated that the central demand of his faction was for President Deuba to step away from the party’s executive leadership before the next general election.
“Our position was clear: the Nepali Congress cannot go into the upcoming elections under the current chairman’s leadership,” he said. “If voters believe voting for Congress only means Deuba becoming prime minister again, what message does that send?”
He clarified that he never demanded the prime ministerial position for himself, stating that the candidate could be anyone except the incumbent party president.
No retaliatory action planned
Responding to questions about whether the special general convention would take disciplinary action against the Deuba faction, Thapa ruled out any such move.
“We will not do that. The closed session is over. Now it is up to the convention and the election process to decide,” he said.
He also dismissed allegations that the ongoing process amounts to a party split.
“This is not a division. This is a legal and constitutional process within the party framework,” Thapa said, adding that the Election Commission routinely evaluates such procedural matters.
Election Commission to be formally informed
Thapa confirmed that once the election process concludes, the party will formally submit all required documentation to the Election Commission of Nepal.
“After our election process is over today, we will provide all necessary information and details to the Election Commission on behalf of the party,” he said.
On the issue of the party symbol, Thapa maintained that legitimacy comes from the convention itself.
“As far as symbols are concerned, the Congress is defined by its convention. Our claim remains natural,” he said.
Background: Deuba faction’s counter-move
Earlier on Tuesday, the Deuba faction submitted a letter to the Election Commission claiming that the Nepali Congress had not held a valid special general convention. The Central Working Committee meeting at Sanepa also decided to take disciplinary action against General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma, including a five-year expulsion, citing defiance of party decisions.
Despite the action, the Thapa–Sharma faction has continued the special general convention at Bhrikutimandap, registering nominations for party leadership positions and proceeding with the election schedule.
