Pokhara, 26 December| In a major political development that has shaken the internal dynamics of Nepal’s oldest political party, Nepali Congress General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma have announced their decision not to contest the upcoming House of Representatives elections unless there is a change in the party leadership. Speaking at the Central Working Committee meeting on Thursday, Thapa emphasized that a transition in leadership is mandatory before the elections scheduled for March. He stated that if the party goes to the polls under the current establishment without reform, he will not be a candidate. Similarly, Sharma, who was unanimously recommended for Jhapa-1, echoed this sentiment, arguing that the political culture of holding onto power indefinitely must be dismantled to make way for new faces and ideas.
The timing of this announcement coincides with a period of intense political maneuvering following the ‘Gen Z’ protests that recently swept the country. While new political forces led by figures like Balen Shah and Rabi Lamichhane are reportedly holding strategic meetings to consolidate a youth-led front, the traditional giants, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, appear to be struggling with internal stagnation. Following a high-level meeting between CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba on December 22, the Nepali Congress moved the Supreme Court seeking the reinstatement of the dissolved House. This shift in strategy, focusing on legal battles rather than internal democratic reforms, has further alienated the reformist faction within the party led by the two General Secretaries.
Despite the party’s official decision to hold the 15th General Convention from January 10 to 12, critics argue that the lack of preparation suggests the leadership is merely buying time. Thapa and Sharma have accused the establishment of centralizing power and ignoring the growing demand for a special convention. As the nation moves toward a crucial election in a climate of heightening public frustration, the potential absence of the party’s two most popular youth icons from the ballot could significantly impact the electoral prospects of the Nepali Congress. The current deadlock underscores a deeper crisis within the political elite as they face an increasingly vocal and demanding younger generation.
