Janakpurdham: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has pledged to fundamentally transform the country’s political culture and development model, declaring a renewed commitment to Madhes as both a “storehouse of food and a school of knowledge.”

Addressing a public gathering in Janakpurdham, Thapa said the Congress would not merely publish a manifesto but implement it in full. Describing his bond with Madhes as one of “son and soil,” he said he had come not as a leader but as a son of the region. He invoked the legacy of democratic figures such as Durganand Jha and Mahendra Narayan Nidhi, pledging to ensure that Madhesis can assert their identity with pride.

Thapa said the party’s new direction is based on a seven-year study across 27 sectors and emphasized that the Congress would stand by its commitments whether in government or opposition. He promised sweeping reforms in education and healthcare, including improvements in mathematics and science education in Madhes and a no-fee health insurance system to prevent families from bearing heavy medical expenses.

Declaring the coming years as the “Farmer’s Decade,” Thapa vowed to make Nepal self-reliant in agricultural production and address long-standing issues faced by sugarcane and potato farmers in Madhes. He also pledged to create opportunities for youths returning from foreign employment to become entrepreneurs.

Promoting the idea of “Team Nepal,” Thapa said the Congress seeks to unite all forces against misgovernance, poverty and unemployment, rather than compete solely against rival parties. He added that the movement is open to collaboration across the political spectrum.

The party’s 10-point “Madhes-Desh” pledge envisions a dignified life for every citizen, with commitments to farmers’ empowerment, access to higher education, free health insurance, and governance free from administrative harassment. Thapa instructed party candidates to take the message of a “changed Congress” directly to voters across the region.