Kathmandu: Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has publicly stated that the party will not contest the upcoming elections under the leadership of incumbent party president Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Responding to repeated questions on social media, Thapa clarified that the NC’s statute requires a special general convention to be held within a set timeframe, during which a new party president will be elected. The party will then enter the election with the signature, policies, and leadership endorsed by that new president.

Thapa urged party leaders and cadres not to remain confused about the matter, reiterating that there is “no alternative” to a special general convention before the polls.

“Many friends have been asking since this morning, ‘Is the party going to contest the elections under the signature of the current president?’ My answer is: No,” Thapa wrote.

He added, “A special general convention will now be held as per the statute. A new president will be elected. The decision will be corrected and sent to the Election Commission with the new president’s signature. The party will contest the election with that signature, with new policies and leadership.”

Thapa emphasised that calling a general convention before the election had been the leadership’s intention from the beginning and that the path ahead is now clear for the party.