KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa said the party must move forward by preserving its past contributions and values while addressing the aspirations of the new generation for rapid development and change.

Speaking in the context of the party’s upcoming 15th general convention, Thapa stated that he aims to build a congress capable of leading the country, managing risks, and moving forward responsibly.

Thapa noted that thousands of new leaders and workers will take on new responsibilities through the ward-level conventions.

He highlighted that the party has prioritized the participation of women, Dalits, indigenous groups, and youth, while also creating specific spaces for democracy fighters, conflict victims, and professionals with diverse experiences.

He expressed confidence that these efforts will provide the energy for the party to move forward in a new direction.

Addressing recent internal differences, Thapa emphasized that the general convention should be used as an opportunity to reconcile rather than increase distance. He said, ‘The Nepali Congress is like a big house. We are members of the same family. It is not necessary for all family members to always have the same opinion.’

He urged party leaders and workers not to base their decisions in the ward conventions on past disagreements.

He suggested that they should forget where they stood in the past and participate in the convention with the feeling that everyone is now on the same side. ‘Let us forget where we stood yesterday. We are all standing in the same place now,’ Thapa said. He urged party members to move forward with consensus, noting that the ward conventions will be followed by municipal and central conventions, which will strengthen the core values of the party.