Kathmandu: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa on Monday emphasized the need to hold the party’s 15th General Convention by Chaitra, proposing critical reforms and urging party unity and discipline. Addressing the concluding day of the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Thapa laid out a comprehensive roadmap for internal restructuring, generational change, and policy clarity.

General Convention by Chaitra
Thapa stressed that the next CWC meeting should set a clear date for the General Convention, arguing that delays risk rendering the party inactive and disconnected. He urged leaders not to spread the narrative that no preparations had been made and called for a “faction-free” general convention, especially among the party’s fraternal organizations.

“We are already behind. If we delay further, we won’t be legally or practically in a position to conduct the General Convention before November 2083,” he warned.

Reforming Fraternal Organizations
Thapa was critical of the delays in holding conventions of fraternal and sister organizations such as the Nepal Student Union. He argued that the failure to act decisively has paralyzed these groups and recommended forming new leadership committees if the current ones fail to convene.

“Let’s not allow factionalism to cripple our future leadership,” he said, urging all leaders to support a fresh, inclusive approach.

On Party Discipline and Meetings
The General Secretary addressed criticisms about the party’s internal decision-making, asserting that only the Working Committee makes official decisions and informal meetings with the President or other officials are consultative.

He also highlighted the need to restore discipline, citing increasing violations of party norms and practices.

Party Organization and Membership Drive
Thapa emphasized the importance of strengthening active membership renewal, revealing that while most members in his constituency had renewed their status, some had lapsed due to neglect or emigration. He proposed:

-Finalizing the active membership renewal by mid-Bhadau.

-Starting fresh membership distribution after that.

-Fixing membership counts before the next convention.

He also suggested that a new CWC meeting before Dashain should “lock” the current list and initiate the next phase of outreach.

Mobilizing Voluntary and Public Relations Committees
Thapa called for stronger linkages between voluntary organizations and fraternal groups, urging reforms in the Public Relations Committees abroad to ensure they contribute meaningfully instead of serving just as voting units during the General Convention.

Constitutional Amendment and Coalition Politics
Addressing national-level governance, Thapa reiterated his party’s commitment to amend the constitution, particularly regarding the Vice President's role and National Assembly speakership. He called for the formation of a task force within 8–10 days to propose amendments and consult other parties and civil society.

“We should own the constitution. It was passed under our leadership, and we should lead any amendments,” Thapa said.

He also commented on the Congress-UML coalition, stating that internal disagreements are normal but must be resolved through dialogue.

Performance Review of the Government
Thapa admitted that despite a year in government, Congress has not significantly improved its public perception. He acknowledged that voters appear disillusioned with traditional parties and urged introspection.

“The old parties talk about historical legacy, but the global electoral trend is shifting. We need to prepare for that change.”

He concluded with a strong call for seriousness and unity, adding, “Let’s stop being afraid of 2084. Let’s get to work.”