KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has stated that he and Dr. Shekhar Koirala, who was defeated in the presidential race during the party’s 14th General Convention, remain aligned.
Speaking briefly to journalists on Wednesday during a two-day orientation program for elected representatives in Pokhara, Thapa reaffirmed his association with Koirala.
“Dr. Shekhar Koirala is my leader today and will remain my leader in the future. I contested under his leadership in the 14th General Convention,” Thapa said. “It is natural for factions to emerge within the party, but as General Secretary, my responsibility is toward the entire party. I have to work for everyone because I hold an institutional role.”
Amid ongoing discussions about factional divides, Thapa stressed that he continues to stand with Koirala. “Whenever faction-related discussions arise, I want to clarify that Shekhar Koirala and I will be together until the 15th General Convention,” he stated. “I believe that Dr. Shekhar Koirala is where I am. Whether one continues in the same position or not is a personal decision.”
During the 14th General Convention in Kathmandu, both Thapa and Koirala were part of the same panel, with Thapa securing the General Secretary post while Koirala lost to Sher Bahadur Deuba in the presidential contest. In recent months, Thapa has been seen as moving closer to Deuba, leading to speculation about a growing rift between him and Koirala.
Thapa has not participated in recent programs led by Koirala. He skipped Koirala’s gathering in Biratnagar and instead attended a Congress provincial meeting there, where he strongly criticized Koirala. Amid these speculations, Thapa’s clarification in Pokhara suggests that he still considers himself part of Koirala’s faction.
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