- Nepali Congress leaders Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Gagan Thapa denied endorsing any candidate panels for the party's 15th General Convention.
- Sharma labeled circulating candidate lists as fake, asserting that all contestants are equal and no official panels have been formed.
- Delegates were advised to vote based on individual merit and inclusivity rather than factional divisions or specific group positions.
- The leaders emphasized that balanced representation is crucial for maintaining party unity and strengthening the future leadership team.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepali Congress leader Bishwa Prakash Sharma has denied claims that a list of candidates has been prepared and circulated as a panel backed by party presidential candidate Gagan Thapa.
The list reportedly circulated on social media ahead of the party’s 15th General Convention election. Sharma said the list was not prepared or sent by him or Thapa.
“I have learned that slips listing candidates are being distributed in our names. They are all fake. All candidates are equal for the presidential candidate and me. There is no need for us to form a panel,” Sharma said.
Sharma, who is contesting for senior vice-president, said Thapa had also rejected the lists circulated in his name.
Sharma urged convention delegates not to choose candidates based on their positions for or against the special general convention. He said the election should focus on party unity and ensure representation from different groups.
“Whoever wins, all candidates are equal. Delegates should not divide candidates into those who supported or opposed the special general convention. Balanced representation of different groups in the results would be good for the party’s broader unity,” Sharma said.
The leadership contest has drawn candidates from different age groups and political backgrounds, including some who are attending the general convention as delegates for the first time.
Amid the contest, some candidates have reportedly been seeking votes by claiming the support of senior leaders. Some have also said they entered the race at the urging of influential leaders and that candidate lists were prepared with those leaders’ backing.
These claims have added to confusion over whether candidates are running independently or as part of informal panels. However, the circulation of a list in a leader’s name does not, by itself, establish that the leader has endorsed the candidates on it.
Thapa and Sharma have denied backing the lists attributed to them. Their statements come as delegates prepare to elect the party’s new leadership.
Sharma has called on delegates to assess candidates individually rather than vote along factional lines. He said a leadership team that represents different groups within the party would help strengthen unity.
