Kathmandu, January 15
A special convention of the Nepali Congress, convened under the leadership of the Gagan Thapa–Bishwa Prakash Sharma group, has elected Gagan Thapa as the party President.
The convention was called in accordance with the party statute after 54 percent of the party’s general convention representatives signed in support. The four-day-long convention formally selected Thapa as president.
Prior to the decision, a central committee meeting of the Sher Bahadur Deuba faction held on Wednesday afternoon had taken disciplinary action against General Secretaries Gagan Thapa, Bishwaprakash Sharma, and Joint General Secretary Farmullah Mansur.
However, the special convention hall annulled that action.
Following the Gen Z movement, Thapa, Sharma and other leaders had been pushing an agenda of leadership transformation and demanding that the party hold its general convention. The Deuba faction, however, maintained that holding a convention before the elections was impossible. As a result, the party moved toward a split.
Similarly, the special convention also formally selected a new central working committee of the Nepali Congress.
Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Pushpa Bhusal have been selected as vice presidents, while Pradeep Paudel and Guru Raj Ghimire have been chosen as general secretaries.
Similarly, the joint general secretaries are Dila Sangraula (women), Prakash Rasaili (Dalit), Bahadur Singh Lama (Indigenous), Udaya Shumsher Rana (Khas-Arya), Mukta Kumari Yadav (Madhesi), Farmullah Mansur (Muslim), Yogendra Chaudhary (Tharu), and Karnabahadur Budha (from backward regions).
At a critical point of that division, Thapa was elected party president. Since his leadership emerged from a revolt against the Deuba faction, the special convention elected Thapa as president unanimously.
