KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala has expressed her support for party president Gagan Thapa, calling on the two factions within the party to end their differences and move forward in unity.
Addressing the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee meeting in Sanepa on Friday, Koirala said all party leaders and cadres must unite to counter what she described as continued efforts to weaken the party.
“There have been conspiracies against the Nepali Congress since Girija Babu’s time. Even today, there are attempts to weaken the Nepali Congress. We need to remain alert and unite to counter such games and conspiracies,” she said.
Koirala said the party’s disputes should be resolved through a unity General Convention. She called on both factions to make compromises and move forward in a spirit of give and take.
Expressing confidence in Thapa’s leadership, Koirala said her previous concerns about whether younger leaders could successfully lead the party had now been dispelled.
“From the outside, I am now a fan of President Gagan Thapa. I did not think he would lead the Nepali Congress this well,” she said. “But now I have complete faith in Gagan Thapa. He has the ability to lead this party forward.”
She said office bearers including General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma were also supporting Thapa in moving the party forward.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s recent order, Koirala said the party currently appeared to be in a state of confusion.
She said senior leaders should be confident in Thapa’s leadership and focus on expanding party membership and strengthening the organization as local and provincial elections approach.
“One side cannot give up everything while the other side holds on to its ego. That cannot be accepted,” she said.
Koirala also urged the faction led by former president Sher Bahadur Deuba to abandon its rigidity and accept Thapa’s leadership in the interest of party unity.
She said both Deuba and Thapa had shown flexibility and should continue making compromises to unite the party.
“Deuba has returned from Hong Kong. He has said that he has a responsibility toward the country and that he wants to unite the party. He has also given up many things. On the other side, Nepali Congress President Thapa has also shown flexibility,” she said.
Koirala stressed that senior leaders should make way for the younger generation rather than competing for party positions.
“Let us not fight for positions now. Forgetting positions, we should promote the younger generation into leadership. Senior Congress leaders of our age should now play the role of guardians,” she said.
Koirala expressed confidence that the Nepali Congress could regain political strength in the coming years, saying the party was attracting more young people.
“We will return to power. We can win a majority,” she said.
Koirala said both sides must make sacrifices and compromises for party unity, adding that she had attended the Central Working Committee meeting to convey that message.
She also expressed confidence that the new generation would take the Nepali Congress forward.
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