KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has said that he is determined to move ahead in a new way by correcting the party’s norms and values.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the closed session of the party’s 15th General Convention here today, Thapa said that he chose the path of reforming the party which has been carrying the flag for a long time even though he was offered to lead the party by forming a new party in the political situation after September 7 and 24.
“If the value of the party is not right, then we have to correct it, try to change it,” he said, “There was a proposal to start a new party and become the president. But I have been stuck here for 14 years to reform and change the party that has carried the flag.” ’
Thapa said that the NC should be understood as one family and all the leaders and cadres within the party have equal rights. He said that leadership is the responsibility to be achieved through a certain process.
“The Congress is a family. It is only about who will take the responsibility of taking decisions within the family,” he said. The right of me and the Congress to sit on the ground is the same. The leadership is to be given time. ’
He said that the understanding of the party’s sovereign power with the cadres and well-wishers of the lower level should be put into practice. Thapa said that the society has changed rapidly in recent times due to social media and access to information, and the Congress should also change itself accordingly. He said that the Congress should restore its relevance and trust among the people at a time when people are moving towards new alternatives with the old political parties.
“The old party is left saying that it is not needed. Now that we have gone back from here, there are many challenges,” he said, “We have to assure the historical party of relevance among the people. The challenge is how to get it done.” ’
He said that the Congress should address the changing thinking and expectations of the youth as there is a large youth population in Nepal. He said that the youth are no longer in a position to wait for the traditional style of political parties.
Admitting that the discussion did not take place as expected in the closed session, Thapa urged the representatives to study their political report and give suggestions. Expressing hope that suggestions would be received within the next 8-10 days, he said that the Congress would be taken forward in a new way after the general convention.
“Only 20 per cent of my time is to go to the internal party and 80 per cent of my time is to make the Congress debate outside,” he said. Thapa also urged the leaders who did not participate in the general convention to return to the party and stop going to the court. Stating that he had the support of leaders including former president Sher Bahadur Deuba, he said that the party should not be dragged into controversies now. “Come back, stop this work of going to court. This is just a waste of time,” he said.
He admitted that there were some shortcomings in organizing the general convention. He said that there were problems in some areas, especially in the implementation of the decisions related to membership and court verdicts, and if there was injustice, it would be redressed.
30 candidates urged to withdraw their candidature
Thapa urged the party to withdraw its candidacy as around 30 candidates are in the fray for the general convention election. He said that the electoral system within the party should also be reconsidered as the number of losers is more than the winners.
“There is still time left, take it back, I still request you,” he said, “The number of winners will be less and the number of losers will be more. Now is the time to change this issue.” ’
He opined that the internal democracy of the party should be further strengthened by selecting the leadership from the ward. He said that the party’s membership dispute should be resolved and the leadership should be selected from the lower level.
Thapa clarified that the statute amendment has not been done for the management of any leader. He said that the statute has been amended to connect the five generations in the party and to clear the organizational jam that has been going on for a long time. “The statute has not been amended to manage the leaders. The statute has been amended to connect the five generations in the party and to clear the jam within the party,” he said.
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