KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has called for the need to change party’s parliamentary party leader and proposed Dr Shekhar Koirala to become the next leader.
Speaking at a gathering of leaders close to the anti-establishment faction of NC led by Dr. Koirala on Wednesday, Thapa criticized NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and suggested that he should be removed as the parliamentary party leader. “Since Deuba is not in favor of holding the party’s general convention in 2026, we need to move forward by changing the leader of the parliamentary party. I propose Dr. Koirala to become the next parliamentary leader and request him to make needful preparations from his side,” Thapa said.
Leaders and cadres of the anti-establishment faction have interpreted Thapa’s proposal to Koirala as the end of bitterness between the two leaders. Rumors of the two leaders of the anti-establishment faction not even being on speaking terms circulated after media reported that Thapa had refused to attend the gathering called by Dr. Koirala. The postponement of the gathering scheduled for Tuesday added fuel to the fire.
Thapa accused President Deuba of being an obstacle to the smooth functioning of the party. “Given Deuba’s working style, there is no possibility of the party’s 15th general convention being held as per the schedule in 2026. If the convention is held in 2028, what will be the performance of the party in the election for three tiers of government in 2028?” Thapa questioned. “Therefore, the leader of the parliamentary party has to be changed. I propose Dr. Koirala to become the leader of the parliamentary party. If we do not change the leader now, anarchism will increase in the party.”
In response, Dr. Koirala said more discussion is needed on Thapa’s proposal. “We should hold more discussions and prepare our strategy. There are many issues to be discussed,” Koirala said in the gathering, according to a leader.
Thapa also said that the lack of dialogue with Koirala has been broken and that group discussions should now be emphasized. “There was no environment for discussion as a gulf existed between us. Albeit late, we have met and held discussions today. Now we have to increase the frequency of discussions,” he added. “There is no point in fighting within the group. We have to be united to take on the other faction of the party.”
Although the meeting was organized to discuss the upcoming Mahasamit meeting, National Assembly elections, and recent political developments, the gathering didn’t discuss any of those agendas.
Dr. Koirala admitted that the lack of communication with Thapa disseminated a message that all was not well between them. “I want to make it clear that there is no conflict with anyone in the group. I agree there was a communication gap, but everything has been resolved now. We will contest in the 15th general convention unitedly as a team,” he added.
