Vote counting begins for NC vice-president, general secretary posts; Thapa pledges to transform NC, regain public trust

Kathmandu / Oct 10: Vote counting for the vice-president and general secretary posts of the Nepali Congress (NC) began late Saturday evening, hours behind schedule, under the party’s 15th General Convention.

Prem Bahadur Khadka, senior advocate and coordinator of the Election Committee, said counting for candidates contesting the two posts’ open categories began at 7:30 pm.

The committee had earlier held discussions with the candidates before opening the ballot boxes in their presence. According to Raju Katuwal, secretary of the Election Committee, counting is underway in 14 rooms at the party’s central office in Sanepa. The process began after CCTV cameras were installed and the names of representatives assigned to oversee the counting were collected.

Counting had initially been scheduled to begin at 3 PM on Saturday but was delayed until the evening due to technical reasons.

The counting for the party presidency concluded on Friday night, with Gagan Kumar Thapa defeating Shyam Krishna Khadgi by securing nearly 94 percent of the votes.

Addressing party members at the central office on Saturday, Thapa pledged to take everyone along, including Khadgi and other candidates who lose in the ongoing contests.

Thapa said party members would have to shoulder greater responsibilities and that no one could evade them. While the vote count might determine winners and losers in the short term, all members would have equally important roles in fulfilling their responsibilities, he said.

Thapa delivered the message alongside senior vice-president Bishwa Prakash Sharma and women’s vice-president Pushpa Bhusal.

Thapa pledges to transform NC, regain public trust

Newly elected Nepali Congress (NC) President Gagan Kumar Thapa, has pledged to transform the party under his leadership and restore public trust in it.

Addressing party cadres and supporters at the party office in Sanepa today, following his election to the post through party’s 15th National General Convention, the leader was of the view a change in the leadership alone would not be enough to bring meaningful transformation.

He stressed that improvements in the party’s performance, along with greater responsibility and accountability, are essential to rebuilding public trust and confidence.

Describing competition for party leadership as a natural practice in democracy, Thapa pledged to move forward by bringing everyone together, including his election rival, Shyam Krishna Khadgi.

Acknowledging that public trust in the party had eroded, he stressed the need to reshape the Nepali Congress into an organisation that could earn confidence of farmers, industrialists, businesspeople, and Nepali citizens working abroad.

He also called for changes in the party’s working style to reconnect well-wishers with the organization and create an environment in which the Nepali Congress would be welcomed into every household.

According to him, party members would have one week to review the report adopted by the General Convention and provide their feedback. Based on their submissions, an action plan would be prepared at the first meeting of the new Central Working Committee. RSS