- Newly elected President Gagan Thapa pledged full accountability, stating no individual is bigger than the party and offering to resign if he makes mistakes.
- Thapa promised to bridge internal factional divides and unite dissatisfied members to focus the organization on addressing urgent public issues.
- He emphasized the need to curb youth migration by fostering a domestic environment where young Nepalis can lead dignified lives with better opportunities.
- The president called for restoring public confidence through tangible policy reforms and organizational transparency rather than through mere political rhetoric.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Newly elected Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has pledged to take full accountability for his actions, unite disgruntled party members, and work toward restoring public trust in the country's oldest democratic establishment.
Speaking at his oath-taking ceremony at the party’s central office in Sanepa, Lalitpur, on Saturday, Thapa stressed that the party should not suffer for the missteps of its leaders, emphasizing that no individual is bigger than the organization.
“As party president, I must remain accountable for my personal, family, and financial affairs,” Thapa said. “If I make a mistake that harms the party, the Nepali Congress should remove me from the presidency and move forward. No individual is above the party.”
Thapa underscored that the Nepali Congress was built on the sacrifices of generations of party workers and supporters. He argued that leaders must take personal ownership of their conduct rather than put the organization’s reputation at risk.
His remarks place accountability at the heart of his new leadership. However, whether this signals a genuine shift in the party's working culture will largely depend on how his administration handles internal complaints, financial transparency, and disciplinary action against corrupt or unethical practices.
Thapa also committed to reaching out to leaders and cadres dissatisfied with the recent convention outcomes or internal decisions, urging them to move past factional disputes and focus on pressing public issues.
“Leave the responsibility of uniting our dissatisfied colleagues to me. I will fulfill that duty,” he said.
Bridging the party’s deep-seated factional divides remains a daunting task for the new president. While his decisive victory gives him a clear mandate from convention delegates, fostering true unity will require more than rhetoric. How effectively the new leadership shares responsibilities, accommodates dissenting voices, and addresses longstanding grievances will define the internal stability of the party.
Expressing grave concern over the ongoing exodus of young Nepalis seeking opportunities abroad, Thapa highlighted the emotional toll of seeing youths depart even during major festivals like Dashain. He insisted the party must work toward building a country where the younger generation can lead a dignified life.
“We cannot bring them back through overnight miracles, but we can make an honest, concerted effort to build an environment where they can live with dignity in Nepal,” Thapa said.
Though he did not outline specific policy roadmaps or economic targets in his address, key challenges—such as job creation, competitive wages, educational reforms, and rebuilding trust in state institutions—remain central to any meaningful effort to curb youth migration.
Concluding his address, Thapa called on party workers to win back public trust through tangible results rather than political rhetoric, urging the Nepali Congress to give citizens a reason to believe that real change is achievable.
While Thapa’s election marks a significant generational shift in leadership, observers note that the true measure of change will lie in organizational and policy reforms. As his tenure begins, party members and the public alike will be watching closely to see how his commitments to internal democracy, transparent candidate selection, and institutional reform are put into practice.
