Nepali Congress Seeks Renewal amid Rift

Sabika Shrestha

As the Nepali Congress opened its 15th General Convention party President Gagan Kumar Thapa has called for political and organizational renewal amid internal divisions, with former president Sher Bahadur Deuba and his faction staying away.

The three-day convention, which began on Sunday, will continue through Tuesday, with the closed-door session scheduled for Monday.

The Congress is also set to elect its new leadership and chart its political and organizational course for the next phase.

Addressing the convention at Kathmandu’s historic Khula Manch, Party President Thapa said the venue symbolised the need for open, fact-based dialogue and debate within the country, Parliament and the party.

He criticised the current functioning of Parliament, saying it must become a genuine forum where leaders listen to people and respond to their questions.

Also presenting his political report, Thapa proposed limiting any individual to a maximum of two terms as prime minister and initiating constitutional arrangements to enforce the limit.

He also proposed voting rights for Nepalis living abroad, restructuring the party across all seven provinces, greater youth participation and stronger internal accountability.

He said democracy must also be strengthened within political parties, arguing that members should be able to question their leaders and express dissent without losing their party membership.

Congress Vice President Bishwo Prakash Sharma said the party must begin a new journey by addressing the aspirations of the new generation, including issues of climate change, the Madhes movement and the concerns of Nepalis living abroad.

Vice President Pushpa Bhusal said the convention should go beyond leadership selection and become a forum for serious discussion on the party’s future.

Ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party’s Chair Rabi Lamichhane defended the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, saying it would not collapse and warning against undermining the people’s mandate.

Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai called for political parties to agree on a long-term national development plan, while CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel raised concerns over the future direction of democracy.

Former Prime Minister and NCP Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal praised Thapa for breaking with the Congress’s traditional leadership pattern and urged the new generation to take responsibility for leading both the party and the country.

Other speakers, including Rastriya Prjatantra Party Chairman Rajendra Lingden, Shram Sanskriti Party’s General Secretary Aaren Rai and Nagarik Unmukti Party founding chair Resham Chaudhary, called for stronger public service and greater representation of marginalised communities.

However, the 15th general convention has also exposed divisions within the Congress.

Former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba was absent from the first day of the convention, along with leaders from his faction.

Deuba has maintained that the 15th General Convention should be conducted by the Working Committee elected by the 14th General Convention, rejecting the process initiated by the Thapa-led faction.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli was also among those who did not attend the convention.

As the country’s oldest major political party, the Nepali Congress is using its 15th General Convention to emphasize renewal and generational change, while seeking to rebuild public confidence and respond to changing expectations.

Beyond electing new leaders, the convention is expected to shape the party’s political and organisational direction and determine how it seeks to reconnect with voters in the next phase of its political journey.