Nepali Congress to Nominate Gagan Thapa as Prime Ministerial Candidate for Upcoming Election

Kathmandu. The Nepali Congress is set to nominate party President Gagan Kumar Thapa as its prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming House of Representatives election scheduled for February 21st. The party has indicated that the Central Working Committee meeting convening today at the party's central office in Sanepa is prepared to formally announce Thapa as the prime ministerial aspirant.

According to party spokesperson Devraj Chalise, the decision on naming the prime ministerial candidate will come from the Central Working Committee meeting. "We are putting forward President Gagan Thapa as the candidate for Prime Minister with a message of a new and innovative Congress across the country," stated spokesperson Chalise.

He added that Congress is preparing to go into the elections with clear leadership, addressing the mandate of the Special General Convention and the message of the Gen-Z movement, which arose demanding good governance and development. "Our strategy is to clearly inform voters who the Prime Minister will be after they cast their votes," he said.

The Congress Special General Convention, held from Poush 27 to 30 in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, had elected a new Central Working Committee under the leadership of Gagan Thapa. Spokesperson Chalise informed that the newly elected office bearers and members from that convention are scheduled to arrive at the party's central office in Sanepa at 1:00 PM today.

However, the first and second meetings of the Central Working Committee following the presidential election, as well as the meeting of the Parliamentary Board formed for selecting candidates for the House of Representatives election, were held outside the party's central office. The committee under Thapa's leadership is also scheduled to formally take charge at the party's central office today. "The Central Working Committee meeting will be held at the central office starting today," Spokesperson Chalise affirmed.

He further noted that the Election Committee will formally present certificates to the Central Working Committee today. 

Targeting the election on February 21st, other political parties have also announced their prime ministerial candidates. CPN-UML has nominated Chairman KP Sharma Oli as its candidate, while the Rastriya Swatantra Party has put forward Balen Shah as its candidate for Prime Minister.

Within the Congress, the faction led by former President Sher Bahadur Deuba had expressed disagreement with the initiative taken by leaders including Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma during the call for the Special General Convention.

The new committee formed by the Special General Convention, which took place despite their disagreement, is preparing to operate the party in a new manner.