Gagan Kumar Thapa has been elected President of the Nepali Congress, a socialist-democratic political party in Nepal, following the party’s 15th General Convention. Thapa secured 6,584 votes, representing 93.88 percent of the total votes cast. His opponent, Shyam Krishna Khadgi, received 375 votes.
Thapa is scheduled to take his oath of office today, Saturday, at 2 PM at the party’s BP Smriti Bhawan in Sanepa, Lalitpur. The vote counting for the presidential position concluded on Friday morning at the National Assembly House, while the counting for other positions was completed at the party’s central office in Sanepa.
Out of 7,317 general convention representatives, 7,039 participated in the voting, with 54 votes declared invalid. The distribution of certificates and oath-taking ceremony for all newly elected officials and central committee members will be held immediately after Dashain.
Impact on Madhesh Politics
The election results are expected to influence the political landscape, particularly in Madhesh Province. Upendra Yadav, chairman of the Janamat Party, has stated his intention to form a coalition government in Madhesh that excludes the Nepali Congress. Yadav cited the non-implementation of a ’15-point agreement’ as the reason for ruling out a potential alliance with the Nepali Congress. He added that formal discussions would commence after the Dashain festival.
Party Structure and Future Plans
The Nepali Congress’s central committee will comprise 297 members. Of these, 231 members are elected, and the remaining 66 will be nominated by the party president. The party’s statute stipulates 15 joint general secretaries, with 11 elected from various inclusive groups and four to be nominated by the president.
Party leaders have indicated that the new working committee’s first meeting, to be held immediately after the oath-taking, will outline the framework and strategy for the upcoming local level elections. According to the Nepali Congress statute, office bearers and members at all levels and bodies of the party serve a four-year term. In extraordinary circumstances, the central working committee can extend this term by a maximum of one year, provided a reason is stated.
Background of the Convention
The Nepali Congress’s 15th General Convention was initially scheduled to take place in Kathmandu from Ashoj 16 to 19 (BS). This schedule was in line with a decision made by the central working committee on Chaitra 11, 2082 (BS), and further affirmed by a Supreme Court ruling on Baisakh 4, 2083 (BS). Voting for the convention took place on Ashoj 23 (BS).
For more details on Gagan Thapa’s vision for the party, you can refer to our earlier coverage: Gagan Thapa Pledges Congress Transformation.
