Pradip Paudel Asserts Party is Transformed and Ready to Lead

Kathmandu: Nepali Congress General Secretary Pradip Paudel has stated that his party is not in competition with any other political group. Addressing an election assembly organized in Samakhushi on Sunday, he declared that the party would not allow extremism to become institutionalized.

Paudel noted that while questions currently exist regarding whether extremism will take root, the Nepali Congress has played a leading role in every movement for change. He added that the party has transformed itself by listening to the warnings and concerns raised by citizens during the "Gen Z" movements.

"Congress is a party that has sacrificed for a long time for rights," he said. "Being 'old' is not determined by who was born first. Congress should be understood as a transformed party that, despite being established earlier, has moved forward by winning the citizens' trust in a new way."

Speaking at the assembly, General Secretary Paudel emphasized that their fight is against the problems facing the country. "We do not want to criticize others; we want to defeat poverty, unemployment, corruption, and bad governance," he said. "Congress now wants to lead towards good governance and prosperity by overcoming all these issues currently seen as problems in the nation."

Describing the Nepali Congress as a party that moves forward by accepting its shortcomings, he stated that not only is the leadership new, but they have also emerged with clarity on thematic issues—a fact that voters should take into account. "New leadership might be a simple matter," he said, "but being new in terms of ideological perspective is a significant matter. Voters must keep this in mind."

He mentioned that previous coalitions formed by various parties narrowed the choices available to citizens. He argued that winning by combining votes from parties with differing ideologies did not represent a victory for ideas, which is why they have moved away from that practice.

General Secretary Paudel further stressed the need to streamline the burdensome state structure according to citizen expectations. "The 275-member Parliament should be brought down to 201. 

The federal cabinet should be reduced from 25 members to 15. Provincial cabinets should consist of only 3 to 5 members. It is not about removing federalism, but making a heavy system leaner," he said.

Party President Gagan Kumar Thapa and Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma also addressed the assembly.