Kathmandu — Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has resigned from his position, taking responsibility after he and all party office-bearers who contested in the House of Representatives election held on Falgun 21 were defeated.
Thapa submitted his resignation to Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma on Wednesday. His resignation comes as the party prepares to hold a Central Committee meeting to review the election and discuss related matters.
Thapa was defeated from Sarlahi-4.
After returning to Kathmandu, Thapa had informed Vice President Sharma that he was ready to resign, taking responsibility for the election defeat. However, Sharma advised him not to step down immediately.
After completing the process of recommending candidates to the Election Commission from the party’s proportional representation list of 20 seats, Thapa formally resigned from the position of party president.
Central Committee Meeting and Election Review
The Nepali Congress has called a Central Committee meeting for Thursday at 1:00 p.m. to review the election results. The party entered the election under Thapa’s leadership following a special general convention held within a short preparation period. Thapa was elected president through that convention on Poush 30.
Within a week, the party proceeded with candidate registration for the House of Representatives election. On Magh 6, the Nepali Congress fielded candidates in all 165 constituencies. However, in the election held on Falgun 21, the party secured victory in only 18 constituencies.
Overall, the Nepali Congress won 38 seats—18 under the first-past-the-post system and 20 through proportional representation—emerging as the second-largest party. The Rastriya Swatantra Party became the largest party with nearly a two-thirds majority.
Internal Pressure and Ongoing Disputes
Following the defeat under Thapa’s leadership, leaders aligned with former President Sher Bahadur Deuba had demanded his resignation. Thapa had also stated that he would step down, taking responsibility for the result.
The Deuba faction did not participate in the special general convention and had taken the matter to the Supreme Court, where the case remains under consideration. There are also ongoing demands within the party to hold a regular general convention, which must be conducted within one year of the special convention.
Thapa’s Statement and Future Plans
In his resignation statement, Thapa said leading the party into the election within a short time after the special general convention was both an opportunity and a challenge. He said the convention marked not only a change in leadership but also the beginning of broader reform and self-assessment within the Nepali Congress.
Although internal changes generated enthusiasm among party members, he said there was not enough time to effectively communicate the message of a “transformed Congress” to the wider electorate.
He identified limited preparation time as one of the key reasons behind the election outcome. Thapa said that regardless of the circumstances, the party contested the election under his leadership, and he therefore takes full responsibility for the result.
He added that although he had decided to resign immediately after the election, he delayed the move to complete essential responsibilities related to the election process. Looking ahead, Thapa said he will travel across the country to engage with party members and the public, understand their views, and listen to their suggestions.
He emphasized that while he has resigned from the position of party president, he remains committed to the process of reform and rebuilding within the Nepali Congress. He described his resignation not as an end, but as the beginning of a process of introspection, accountability, and renewal within the party.
