KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has expressed confidence that ongoing efforts to reunify the party will produce results by the third week of Shrawan, urging leaders to avoid actions that could undermine the reconciliation process.
Thapa made the remarks during a meeting on Sunday with a delegation of locally elected representatives from the Nepali Congress led by Nepal Municipal Association President Bhim Dhungana, who have been campaigning for party unity.
According to Dhungana, Thapa said a four-member task force would be formed to negotiate with dissatisfied leaders and prepare a framework for consensus. He added that the party had already asked the non-establishment faction to nominate two members for the committee.
“The current challenges facing the party make unity indispensable,” Thapa was quoted as saying, urging all leaders to refrain from activities that could deepen internal divisions.
Thapa also requested the group to postpone its planned national gathering scheduled for Shrawan 16, saying efforts should focus on quietly resolving outstanding issues rather than escalating internal disputes.
“We are seriously working to resolve the party’s problems. Differences should be reduced, not intensified,” Dhungana quoted Thapa as telling the delegation. “Your initiative is positive, but instead of holding a gathering now, we should finalize the remaining issues. If necessary, I will personally attend a future meeting.”
Thapa said the party was prioritizing consensus, even if it meant delaying the Central Working Committee meeting.
Kageshwori Manohara Municipality Mayor Upendra Karki, who attended the meeting, quoted Thapa as saying that “the consensus process will reach a meaningful conclusion by the third week of Shrawan.”
The delegation, which has been meeting senior party leaders in recent days to press for unity, warned that continued factionalism was weakening the party at the grassroots.
Sharada Municipality Mayor Prakash Bhandari said local representatives told Thapa that it had become increasingly difficult to inspire party workers and the public without a united Nepali Congress.
“We made it clear that if the party cannot unite, there is little justification for us to continue in our positions. We even raised the possibility of resigning from our elected posts,” Bhandari said.
Tilagufa Municipality Mayor Shankar Upadhyay said Thapa assured the delegation that such a situation would not arise and expressed confidence that the party would remain united.
Thapa also said he viewed the campaign by local representatives positively and proposed holding a nationwide virtual meeting with elected representatives from across the country.
Karki said the campaign would continue monitoring developments before deciding whether to proceed with the postponed national gathering.
