Koirala agrees to support Thapa in parliamentary party election

KATHMANDU: Leader of the anti-establishment faction of Nepali Congress, Dr Shekhar Koirala, has agreed to support General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa in the party’s parliamentary party election.

Both these leaders wanted to challenge party president Sher Bahadur Deuba in the parliamentary party election. But as the candidacies of both would strengthen Deuba in the parliamentary party election, the were under pressure to forge consensus.

Following a series of meetings since Monday, Dr Koirala on Tuesday decided to support Thapa’s candidacy. In return, Thapa has promised to support Koirala’s bid for the party presidency in the 15th general convention.

“Dr Koirala is supporting me in the parliamentary party election. In return, I will propose his name for the post of party president in our upcoming general convention,” Thapa told Himal Press. “We have decided to join hands to move the party forward. I am hopeful of getting the support of all the lawmakers.”

Thapa and Dr Koirala had formed an alliance in the party’s 14th general convention held last year against the establishment faction led by party president Deuba. While Thapa won the election for the post of general secretary, Dr Koirala lost to Deuba in the second round.

Leaders close to the party’s anti-establishment faction say Dr Koirala and Thapa have agreed to move ahead on the basis of the previous understanding.

The two leaders have agreed that Dr Koirala will lead the party, and Thapa will lead the government, an NC leader present in the meeting told Himal Press.

As per the understanding, Dr Koirala has become the proposer in Thapa’s candidacy for the post of parliamentary party leader. Similarly, party vice president Dhanaraj Gurung, general secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma and leader Pradeep Poudel are the seconders.

According to the party statute, only the parliamentary party leader can become the prime minister.  Nepali Congress has 89 members in the House of Representatives. The establishment faction of the party has already decided that party president Deuba will contest the election for parliamentary party leader.