KATHMANDU: With the Nepali Congress’ 15th General Convention just days away, Gagan Thapa appears to have consolidated support for the party presidency, while competition is intensifying for other key leadership positions.
Thapa is set to lead preparations for the party’s 15th General Convention, scheduled to be held in Kathmandu from October 4-8, 2026. With the convention only a few days away, preparations are gathering momentum, while several party leaders say they see no immediate alternative to Thapa for the presidency.
The leadership transition, generational change and organizational revitalization campaign that preceded the special general convention in December 2082 brought together leaders from different factions of the Nepali Congress. General Secretaries Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Gagan Thapa had spearheaded the campaign for leadership transition and generational change.
Since then, several leaders who attended the special convention alongside Thapa have joined his camp. Some leaders who had previously been associated with former President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s faction and supported a different side during the special convention have also moved closer to Thapa ahead of the regular general convention.
With around four days remaining before the 15th General Convention, no other leader has publicly declared a candidacy for the post of party president. However, leaders have continued to announce their candidacies for the posts of vice president, general secretary and other positions.
Min Bishwakarma, who was previously associated with former President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s faction and is now involved in preparations for the convention alongside Thapa, said no leader other than the incumbent president had so far claimed the presidency.
“So far, no leader has claimed the position of president. The current president is being viewed as the presidential candidate. However, there are still four days remaining before the General Convention, so it is too early to make a definitive statement,” Bishwakarma said. He added that preparations for the 15th General Convention were progressing.
Another Congress leader, Mahalaxmi Upadhyay Dina, also said she did not see a need for an alternative to Thapa. She said there was greater competition for other office-bearer positions but claimed that Thapa had emerged as the preferred choice for the presidency.
“There is greater competition for other positions, but there is a clear understanding regarding the leadership. The assessment among many is that no other leader can currently understand the aspirations of the grassroots as closely as Gagan Thapa,” Upadhyay said.
She added that this did not mean other leaders were incapable, but argued that many party members believed the Congress would benefit from Thapa continuing in the leadership.
Leaders associated with Thapa, including Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma, Vice President Pushpa Bhusal, General Secretary Pradeep Poudel and General Secretary Guru Ghimire, have also publicly indicated that Thapa is likely to retain the party’s top position at the upcoming convention.
“There has not been a formal contest so far, but in my assessment, no other leader is preparing to claim the presidency. Whether through an election or consensus, Gagan Thapa is likely to become the next president,” General Secretary Pradeep Poudel said.
Poudel said many leaders viewed Thapa as the preferred candidate, while emphasizing that the Congress would continue to provide space for those wishing to participate in the democratic electoral process.
Former Congress Vice President Dhanraj Gurung has also not publicly announced a bid for the presidency. Gurung is regarded as being close to Dr. Shekhar Koirala, but in the run-up to the convention, he has been working in support of Thapa. He is also seen as a potential candidate for another office-bearer position.
Congress Vice President Pushpa Bhusal likewise described Thapa as the leading candidate for the party presidency. She said Thapa had closely followed contemporary political developments, connected with younger generations and demonstrated an ability to analyze changing political circumstances.
“There is no alternative to the next president given his years of work and the support he has received from the younger generation. Gagan Thapa is the next president,” Bhusal said.
She added that Thapa would seek to move forward by combining political experience with the support of younger party members.
Bhusal also pointed to the special general convention, saying that Thapa had received unanimous support for the leadership at that gathering. She said the regular general convention would continue to allow leaders who wished to contest through an electoral process to do so.
“Since no one has claimed the presidency so far, it appears increasingly likely that he will become the next president,” she said. General Secretary Guru Ghimire also said there was little uncertainty within the party over the presidential race.
“There is no confusion regarding the presidency. Gagan Thapa will definitely come forward. He received support from the grassroots during the special general convention, which led to his selection as president. There is likewise no apparent alternative regarding the presidency at the regular general convention,” Ghimire said.
Ghimire nevertheless emphasized that the Nepali Congress is a democratic party and that leaders who wish to enter the presidential race through an election remain free to do so.
“Friends who want to follow the electoral process have that opportunity. However, many leaders do not want a contest for the presidency,” he said.
Competition intensifies for other Nepali Congress posts
While party leaders have so far shown little interest in challenging Gagan Thapa for the presidency, competition is emerging for the posts of vice president and general secretary. Several leaders are reportedly preparing their candidacies and have begun publicly discussing potential contenders.
Pushpa Bhusal is among those seen as seeking the position of vice president. Dhanraj Gurung and Bishwa Prakash Sharma are also reportedly interested in the post. As the convention process advances, more leaders are expected to enter the race.
Current General Secretaries Guru Ghimire and Pradeep Poudel are considered potential contenders for the general secretary position. Leaders including Min Bishwakarma are also reportedly preparing to compete for the post. Several other leaders are also positioning themselves for the position of joint general secretary.
Vice President Bhusal said the presence of multiple aspirants for different positions indicates that elections are likely for posts other than the presidency. General Secretary Poudel similarly said the party’s democratic electoral process provides an opportunity for leaders who wish to contest, in accordance with the party statute.
The final list of candidates has yet to emerge because the organizational and electoral processes at the lower levels are still underway. Under the party’s current provisions, general convention representatives must be elected from the ward level, meaning many potential candidates have not yet formally declared their candidacies.
The upcoming convention will also bring greater representation from younger members. The party statute requires representation of 21 young people below the age of 30 on the Central Working Committee. Of the approximately 7,000 general convention delegates, 495 are expected to be young representatives.
There are 165 House of Representatives constituencies, from which 5,445 general convention delegates are expected to be selected. In addition, 330 provincial assembly constituency presidents and 753 municipal presidents will participate as provincial-level representatives. Representatives from Nepali Congress public relations committees in 37 countries will also take part.
According to Vice President Bhusal, the 15th General Convention is expected to have around 23,240 more delegates than the party’s 14th General Convention held in 2078 BS, partly because representatives from the party’s sister organizations will also participate.
Under the current party statute, the Central Working Committee will comprise 231 members, compared with 168 members under the structure adopted for the 14th General Convention in 2078 BS.
Meanwhile, internal factional differences remain unresolved. Although the Election Commission and the Supreme Court have recognized the four-star flag and tree symbol associated with the Nepali Congress, the Deuba faction continues to assert its claim over the party’s organizational identity.
Former acting presidents Purna Bahadur Khadka and Dr. Shekhar Koirala have maintained their respective positions regarding participation in the upcoming convention, while leaders aligned with both sides have been engaged in organizational preparations.
With the possibility of reconciliation before the election appearing increasingly limited, discussions are reportedly being considered for the period after the convention. General Secretary Ghimire said Congress President Gagan Thapa had informed party leaders that the possibility of reaching an agreement before the election had effectively ended.
Despite the divisions, the Nepali Congress has made arrangements to formally invite senior leaders, including former presidents, to the convention’s inauguration.
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