Gagan Thapa Clarifies Special Convention is for Party Unity, Not Division

Kathmandu: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa has stated that the rumors linking the demand for a special convention to a party split are incorrect. He argued that demanding a convention by exercising rights under the party constitution is not about weakening the Congress, but rather an effort to reconnect the party with the citizens.

Speaking after a meeting of the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee, General Secretary Thapa alleged that leaders were being pressured, telephoned, and warned not to participate in the special convention. "There is pressure on colleagues not to come by claiming the party will split, and fear is being instilled by mentioning upcoming elections," he said. "This is not responsible behavior."

General Secretary Thapa reminded that General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma has already expressed a commitment that the party will not split and will not be allowed to split, clarifying that their objective is not to bring discord within the party. "We are not trying to weaken the Congress; we are trying to connect the Congress with the citizens," he said.

Thapa stated that the proposal read by the Acting President—claiming a special convention is unnecessary once a regular convention schedule is announced—is a misinterpretation of the constitution. 

"The constitution grants the right to a special convention if 40 percent of the convention delegates demand it," he said. "A scare tactic is being spread that this leads to division, but implementing the constitution is not division."

He mentioned that the country's political situation changed significantly following the events of Bhadra 23 and 24, making a special convention essential for review, self-assessment, and improvements in leadership and policy. "Nepal before Bhadra 22 and after Bhadra 25 is not the same," he said. "We cannot move forward without discussing why there is citizen dissatisfaction, what our role was, and where we failed."

General Secretary Thapa stated that the delegates participating in the special convention are not anti-party, but responsible members exercising their constitutional rights. "A party breaking does not just mean a formal split; it means the breaking of the hearts of the workers," he said. "The party will remain united if we move forward by engaging in dialogue and listening."

Claiming that the special convention organized for the 27th and 28th is constitutional, Thapa urged the Party President to participate. "If the President participates, the prestige of the party will increase and doors for consensus will open," he said.