KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa is set to chair a meeting at the party’s central office in Sanepa for the first time on Friday since being elected to the post.
Thapa was elected party president through the second special general convention held from January 11 to 15. Although he has already chaired two meetings after assuming office, one in Lalitpur and another at a party palace in Kathmandu, this will be his first official meeting at the party’s central headquarters.
According to Congress spokesperson Devraj Chalise, Thapa will enter the Sanepa office for the first time since becoming party president. He is scheduled to formally assume office there on Friday afternoon before heading to Sarlahi-4, the constituency from where he is contesting the upcoming election.
Thapa has filed his candidacy from Sarlahi Constituency No. 4 for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5. In the constituency, he faces a challenge from Dr. Amaresh Singh, a former Congress leader who is contesting the election from the Rastriya Swatantra Party.
Thapa’s path to full leadership responsibilities has opened after the Supreme Court declined to issue an interim order against the special convention. The Deuba faction had filed a writ petition challenging the legality of the convention. During a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Justice Sunil Kumar Pokharel issued only a show-cause order in Thapa’s name, asking for a written response within 15 days.
In its initial order, the Supreme Court stated that the case should be heard on a priority basis after reviewing the legal and constitutional aspects.
Despite the election of a new working committee through the special convention, the Nepali Congress has yet to update its official website. The site still displays the old working committee, while the names and photographs of Gagan Thapa and General Secretary Bishwprakash Sharma have been removed.
Against this backdrop, Thapa is set to formally assume office at Sanepa on Friday. “There are election-focused meetings scheduled for tomorrow,” Chalise said. “The party president will first assume office at the central office and then finalize his visit to the election constituency.”
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