KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) delivered its verdict on the legitimacy dispute within the Nepali Congress on April 19. Following the ruling, Purna Bahadur Khadka stopped issuing statements as acting president and handed over the responsibility of maintaining party unity to party President Gagan Kumar Thapa, who emerged through the special general convention.
Since then, Khadka has stopped claiming the role of acting president, but his faction has continued parallel political activities. At present, both factions are organizing separate provincial-level gatherings to demonstrate their strength.
So far, representatives from Thapa’s faction and Khadka’s side have held only two rounds of talks regarding party unity. However, questions remain over what issues were discussed during those meetings and whether meaningful unity between the two sides is possible while both continue parallel activities.
Presented here is an edited excerpt from a conversation with NC leader Min Bishwakarma.
How many meetings have been held so far regarding party unity?
Current party President Gagan Kumar Thapa and Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma held a one-and-a-half-hour discussion. Before that, the provincial-level meetings of the working committee elected from the 14th General Convention had already been scheduled.
Those meetings are now taking place. Discussions have focused on how to make the 15th General Convention a convention of unity, how to address the party’s internal and external challenges, and how to strengthen Nepal’s democracy, party unity, and organizational structure in the coming days. Everyone understands that such discussions will strengthen unity rather than weaken it.
Court-recognized Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa and former acting president Purna Bahadur Khadka have met only twice so far — on April 19 and May 2.
What issues were discussed during those meetings?
The first meeting was mainly an ice-breaker. There had been no direct conversation before that. After the court recognized their working committee as legitimate, we met on April 19 to discuss how to move forward after what we consider a politically motivated court decision.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to keep the door open for party unity while also preparing for the 15th General Convention.
NC President Thapa said that he had come to meet Purna Bahadur Khadka. He said he would consult with Bishwaprakash Sharma and return the day after tomorrow. However, he returned only after 13 days.
The second meeting was more positive. During the conversation on May 2, they said they were also in favor of party unity. They said our demands were neither unusual nor unexpected and that consultations could continue so both sides could move forward together.
They also said they had programs scheduled in all seven provinces and, therefore, might not be able to meet immediately. If they remain committed to what they expressed that day, then the prospects for unity are positive.
What is the status of preparations for the 15th General Convention?
Our faction had earlier set May 14 as the date for the 15th General Convention. However, the convention was not held, and no new date has been announced yet.
The agenda introduced by the working committee elected during the 14th General Convention automatically became invalid after the Supreme Court’s verdict on party legitimacy.
Politics is not just a legal matter; it is also a social and emotional issue connected to dignity and freedom.
Technically, Gagan Thapa may have reached the party leadership, but the party’s mainstream force still remains outside. Unless this force is brought together through unity and inclusion, the party cannot become stronger.
Emotional, organizational, and constitutional unity within the party is essential to strengthen both the Nepali Congress and Gagan Thapa’s leadership.
These discussions are aimed at making the 15th General Convention a unified convention of the Nepali Congress.
What are your main conditions for party unity?
The primary condition for unity is the adjustment of all central members and office bearers elected through the 14th General Convention in accordance with the party’s current statute and political circumstances.
We believe the proposed list of 19 members should be reconsidered. If issues related to active membership, the management committee, disciplinary committee, election committee, and other bodies necessary for the 15th General Convention can be adjusted properly, then we believe both sides can move forward together.
Positions on both sides may still change as negotiations continue.
Many of the proposals put forward by current General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire on these issues are acceptable to us. However, certain proposals, such as dissolving and merging committees, are difficult for us to accept. Apart from those issues, we understand that there is flexibility on most matters.
Why is there dissatisfaction over the dissolution of sister organizations and committee reshuffles?
Some of the recent decisions have weakened trust between the two sides.
First, the leadership should have focused on resolving party unity issues and restructuring fraternal and sister organizations through consensus before launching grassroots campaigns. Instead, it appears they are trying to strengthen their position at the grassroots level first and pursue unity later. That has created dissatisfaction.
We have repeatedly issued statements opposing membership renewal drives and grassroots campaigns launched by the working committee formed through the special general convention.
We are not participating in these grassroots campaigns with genuine enthusiasm. Some of our colleagues who remain in official positions may follow the party’s circulars, but those outside formal structures are not emotionally involved in these activities.
We do not agree with unilateral decisions taken without broader consensus. The party itself had said the dispute should be resolved from the same point where it began. However, unilateral decisions are being made regarding membership renewal, grassroots campaigns, and the dissolution of sister organizations. These actions weaken the possibility of unity.
Is unity really possible if meetings are held every 15 or 20 days while, at the same time, both sides continue their separate political activities without any pause or change?
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