Kathmandu, Jan 15 (NationPress) In a contentious Special General Convention (SGC) of the Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa was elected as the new president of the historic party, mere hours after facing expulsion from a faction led by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

At the stroke of midnight on Wednesday, the SGC also appointed new members to the Central Working Committee. Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Pushpa Bhusal were elected as vice-presidents, while Pradeep Poudel and Gururaj Ghimire took on the roles of general secretaries.

This transition signifies a significant shift from the older generation to a new leadership, although it comes with the unfortunate consequence of a party split.

The primary challenge for this new leadership will be to gain recognition from the Election Commission — or possibly the Supreme Court — as the legitimate governing body of the Nepali Congress. The Election Commission has acknowledged that both factions have submitted claims to legitimacy.

This marks the second split within the party in the last 23 years, raising concerns about its electoral viability ahead of the upcoming elections scheduled for March 5.

Upon his election, Thapa vowed to operate in a manner that would instill pride in all Nepali Congress leaders and members.

During his address at the SGC, he emphasized that the Nepali Congress would serve as a supportive entity that prioritizes the welfare of the general public, criticizing previous leadership for neglecting the concerns of citizens.

Multiple discussions between the SGC organizers and the Deuba-led faction broke down over whether Deuba should step down prior to the elections. Following this failure, the SGC organizers moved forward with the leadership election, while the Deuba faction declared disciplinary measures against three leaders, including Thapa and Sharma, as well as Farmullaha Mansur.

Despite repeated requests from a significant number of elected members for a general convention, the Deuba faction resisted calling the SGC, prompting Thapa and Sharma to proceed without Deuba’s endorsement.

Back in 2002, Deuba, who was then serving as prime minister, formed his own party, the Nepali Congress (Democratic), after being expelled by the party led by the late Girija Prasad Koirala due to his suggestion to dissolve the House of Representatives, a move contrary to the party's consensus.

After the successful 2006 people’s movement, the two parties merged to form a unified Nepali Congress.

Thapa, at 49, gained recognition as a student leader during the 2006 people’s movement, where his passionate speeches against the monarchy and in favor of establishing a republic resonated with the youth.

As a leader of the party’s student wing, the Nepal Student Union, he delivered powerful orations challenging the monarchy during a time of stringent royal control.

During that period, the leadership of the Nepali Congress was largely muted on the need for a republican transformation, adhering instead to the “two-pillar theory” of constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy.

Since stepping into the national arena two decades ago, Thapa has established himself as a widely respected figure both within the party and among the general populace.

Post the 2006 people’s movement, he was included in the proportional representation list for the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections, which allowed him to enter the Assembly.

After the first Constituent Assembly failed to draft a new constitution, new elections were conducted in 2013, wherein Thapa contested from the Kathmandu–4 constituency and emerged victorious. He successfully retained the same seat in the elections of 2017 and 2022, solidifying his status as an influential player in national politics.

Within the party, Thapa faced defeat initially in his bid for the general secretary position at the 13th general convention in 2016. However, he successfully contested again for the same role at the 14th convention in 2021.

Following the 2022 general election, Thapa challenged Deuba for leadership of the parliamentary party but was unsuccessful. Nonetheless, he exerted pressure on Deuba following the Gen Z movement in September of last year, when he joined forces with fellow general secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma to advocate for an SGC, asserting that the party required change ahead of the upcoming elections.

With the leadership refusing to accommodate calls for the SGC, Thapa and Sharma took matters into their own hands, ultimately leading to Thapa's election as the new president — albeit at the price of a party divide.