KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) leader Gagan Thapa has warned that the country’s oldest party will collapse if it does not change its current course.

Thapa is also a candidate for NC general secretary in the ongoing 14th General convention of the party.

Speaking at a program organized in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Thapa said that the party would crumble if its ways are not altered. He cautioned that the future of nine lakh party workers, including him, would be dark if the party collapsed. He further said that if the nine lakh party members did not cast votes for the party, it will be the end of the NC.

“While leaders are saying that the NC will win the election, it is important to spread public awareness about why the NC should win the polls. The party can be strong only if it adopts farsighted policies that take into account situation beyond the election,” the NC leader said.

Leader Thapa opined that 1.5 million new people, who have never been a member of the NC, should be inducted into the party after the ongoing 14th General Convention to drive the party ahead.

Stating that both messaging and messengers were needed in the party, Thapa stressed an environment should be created where ordinary citizens could also be affiliated with the party, besides party leaders and cadres.