Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has said that young people should not be seen only as the country’s future, but as active partners in the present who must move forward together with the party.
In a video message released on Wednesday, Thapa said, “Youth should not be left aside by saying they are the future. Youth are partners of today. We must walk together.” He also urged people to pause and reflect on what a “transformed Nepali Congress” represents.
“We have come forward with new thinking,” Thapa said. “A changed Congress means a change in mindset, commitment, and working style. But being new does not mean breaking ties with the past. Democracy, social justice, diversity, and inclusion are our roots. The new Congress will further expand these roots.”
Thapa said the party aims to strengthen the positive aspects of its past while correcting earlier mistakes. “We will correct our shortcomings and present a clear roadmap for how the party and the country should be run,” he said.
He said a transformed Nepali Congress would continue to uphold the party’s core values while adapting to changing times.
Commitment to Principles and Inclusive Politics
According to Thapa, the party will never place its own interests above national interests. “If it comes to a choice between power and principles, the party will let go of power,” he said. “We will not do anything or align with anyone simply to gain or retain power. If necessary, we will remain outside the government with dignity.”
He said the party should not function merely as an election-focused organization. “When the party was founded, it was envisioned as a social movement. We will bring the Congress back to that path,” Thapa said.
Referring to public dissatisfaction in the past over election symbols and the party’s operational style, Thapa said the leadership had taken risks to address those concerns. “You called for reform and change, and we acted on that trust,” he said.
“After addressing your grievances, we now assert our rightful claim and say with confidence that this time you should vote for us. The transformed Congress has committed to building the kind of country you want,” he added. Thapa also called on party members who had left or become inactive to return and take part actively.
He said the Nepali Congress would not engage in politics driven by provocation or hatred. “We will not practice politics based on anger or division,” he said. “We will unite people and work to reform Nepal, transform governance, and change the pace and mindset of those in power, guiding the country in the right direction with that commitment.”
