CHITWAN: Nepali Congress leader Gagan Kumar Thapa has acknowledged past political shortcomings, saying that decisions made by his party over the past decade had led to public disappointment and lowered the party’s image.
Addressing the opening session of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) first national general convention in Chitwan on Sunday, Thapa reflected on his party’s recent political record and said self-criticism was necessary for reform.
He said that while Nepali Congress takes pride in its historical contributions, some decisions taken in recent years, particularly in the pursuit of electoral victory and power, had caused regret.
“We remember B.P. Koirala with pride when we go to the party office, but in the past 10 years, some decisions involving my party have made me lower my head,” he said.
Thapa admitted that politics in recent years had been driven by efforts to secure government positions and power, sometimes leading to misuse of authority for personal and familial interests.
He said such practices were mistakes and emphasized the need for reform within established political parties.
Thapa also said that his party was open to learning from RSP, acknowledging that the newer political force had introduced fresh perspectives into Nepal’s political landscape.
At the same time, he cautioned against dismissing Nepal’s democratic history, urging people not to undermine the struggles and sacrifices made during the movement against the Panchayat system.
He said democratic achievements over the past 35 years should be viewed in continuity with earlier political struggles rather than being dismissed entirely.
Thapa added that Nepal’s current democratic system has been built on the foundation of those sacrifices and historical movements.
Comment