Gagan announces candidacy for NC President

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has announced that he will run for the post of President in the party’s upcoming 15th general convention.

Speaking at a program in Kathmandu on Monday, Thapa said he would stand as a candidate for the top post and assume the party’s leadership. “The general convention should not be viewed merely as a process of leadership change but as an opportunity to energize the party,” he added.

Thapa also objected to what he described as maneuvers within the party to delay the convention. Pointing to delays in submitting the list of active members from the grassroots level, he expressed suspicion that there was a deliberate attempt to defer the general convention.

“As a general secretary, I have been clearly telling party president Sher Bahadur Deuba to hold the convention on time. The general convention must be held before the next general election, regardless of the cost,” he said, adding that the party should not go into elections without completing the convention.

Acknowledging shortcomings in the process of forwarding details of active members from the local level, Thapa said he was not blaming anyone. “But I still believe that it can be completed on time as we are making all possible efforts,” he added.