- Gagan Kumar Thapa proposed limiting the prime minister's tenure to two terms and introducing a "None of the Above" (NOTA) option for voters.
- The report suggests granting voting rights to Nepalis living abroad and reforming the party to prioritize youth employment and economic opportunities.
- Leaders emphasized shifting focus from historical achievements to practical service delivery and intergenerational cooperation to restore public trust in politics.
Kathmandu, Nepal: The 15th General Convention of the Nepali Congress has opened discussions on the party’s future direction, with President Gagan Kumar Thapa proposing limits on the prime minister’s tenure, changes to the electoral system, voting rights for Nepalis living abroad and reforms to the party’s organization.
Addressing the convention at Tundikhel in Kathmandu on Sunday, Thapa said the Congress could no longer depend only on its history and established electoral structure. He said the party needed to respond to the changing expectations of citizens, particularly young people, and work to restore public confidence in politics.
The proposals in Thapa’s political report focus on leadership accountability, political renewal, economic opportunities and changes to the party’s working methods.
Proposal to limit the prime minister’s tenure
One of the major proposals in Thapa’s political report is a constitutional provision limiting an individual to a maximum of two terms as prime minister.
Thapa said the repeated return of the same leaders to executive positions had increased public frustration with politics. He argued that the continued competition among a limited group of leaders for the prime minister’s post had created the impression that political power remained concentrated in a few hands.
Comparing the situation to a game of “musical chairs,” Thapa said the repeated rotation of the same leaders and ministers had weakened public trust in political institutions.
If adopted at the national level, the proposal would require constitutional changes and support from political parties beyond the Nepali Congress.
Electoral reform and voting rights for Nepalis abroad
Thapa has also proposed changes to Nepal’s electoral system, including the introduction of a “None of the Above” (NOTA), or “right to reject,” option on ballot papers.
Such a provision would allow voters who do not support any of the candidates to register their rejection instead of choosing one of the candidates.
He has also proposed voting rights for Nepali citizens living abroad. The issue has gained importance as large numbers of Nepalis have gone abroad for employment, education and other opportunities.
Supporters of overseas voting argue that Nepali citizens living abroad remain connected to the country and should be given an opportunity to participate in national elections. However, implementing such a system would require arrangements for voter registration, identity verification, polling and the necessary legal provisions.
Congress crisis goes beyond electoral defeat
Thapa said the problems facing the Nepali Congress could not be viewed simply in terms of electoral victories or defeats.
He said the party was facing a deeper question about its identity and political purpose. According to him, the Congress needs to focus more on the problems faced by the present generation instead of relying mainly on its past contributions to democracy.
The Congress has played a major role in Nepal’s political changes, including the democratic movement of 1951, the restoration of multiparty democracy in 1990, the 2006 movement and the constitution-making process that followed.
Thapa said those achievements remain important, but the party cannot base its future politics on history alone.
He said the main challenge now was to address the concerns of the present generation.
Youth employment and economic opportunities
Thapa identified employment, education and economic opportunities as major concerns for young Nepalis.
He said people should be able to find jobs on the basis of their skills and qualifications and should not be forced to leave the country because of a lack of opportunities at home.
He said the increasing dependence on foreign employment should prompt the country to examine why young people are leaving and what could be done to create opportunities for them to stay or return.
He also stressed the need to ensure markets for farmers, a better environment for entrepreneurs and greater economic and social security for citizens.
Foreign employment and remittances have become important parts of Nepal’s economy and household incomes, making the issue particularly significant.
Thapa said political parties should be judged not only by their representation in government but also by whether they can improve people’s everyday lives.
‘Anti-politics’ and ‘hyper-politics’
Thapa also spoke about the changing relationship between citizens and politics.
He said Nepal was experiencing two trends at the same time: growing dissatisfaction with conventional politics and increasing political involvement in almost every area of public life.
He referred to these trends as “anti-politics” and “hyper-politics.”
According to Thapa, many citizens are frustrated with traditional political practices, while political disputes have increasingly spread to social media, public institutions and everyday social interactions.
He said the situation reflected a growing level of public dissatisfaction and frustration with the political system.
Reference to the Bhadra 23 and 24 incident
Thapa referred to the incidents of Bhadra 23 and 24 while discussing the reasons behind recent political dissatisfaction. He said the events reflected frustrations that had built up over a long period.
He said suppression and criminal activities linked to the incidents were unacceptable, but the anger expressed by the public could not simply be ignored.
The Congress was also affected by the developments and later sought to respond through a special general convention.
Thapa said political parties needed to distinguish between criminal activities and the grievances that had contributed to growing public dissatisfaction.
Government and opposition both have responsibilities
Thapa said it would be wrong to attribute all of Nepal’s current problems to the present government.
He said many political, economic and institutional problems had developed over several decades and could not be solved by a single administration.
He called on both the government and opposition to accept their respective responsibilities.
Thapa also said Nepal needed a serious discussion about changes in the global economy and international politics, climate change and new technologies.
He warned that artificial intelligence and automation could affect employment and said Nepal needed to prepare for those changes.
Migration, declining production and investment concerns
Thapa raised concerns about the growing number of young people leaving the country for employment, the decline in the population of rural areas and the weakness of domestic production.
He questioned the sustainability of an economy that depends heavily on foreign employment while domestic industries and productive sectors remain weak.
He also stressed the need to improve the investment environment and create better conditions for businesses and entrepreneurs.
According to Thapa, Nepal’s economic problems are the result of long-standing structural weaknesses and cannot be blamed on a single government or political party.
He called for cooperation among major political forces to address those problems.
Sharma calls for introspection
Nepali Congress Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma also called on the party to examine its own shortcomings.
Sharma said political leaders had failed to turn public dissatisfaction into confidence in the political system.
He questioned whether simply forming a new government was enough to address the anger and frustration seen in society.
He also expressed concern about political leaders increasingly using social media to attack one another.
Sharma said political leaders needed to understand the reasons behind growing public frustration and take practical steps to rebuild trust.
He said a strong government and a responsible opposition could help strengthen democratic politics and deliver results to citizens.
Prachanda urges intergenerational unity
Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ who attended the convention, urged Thapa to bring together leaders and party workers who had become separated from the Nepali Congress.
Prachanda also cautioned against creating divisions between generations in the name of promoting young leadership.
He said the experience of older leaders and the energy of younger leaders should complement each other.
His remarks came as political parties in Nepal face growing demands from younger leaders for greater participation and leadership opportunities.
Lamichhane calls for stronger internal discipline
Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane advised the Congress leadership not to spend too much time trying to satisfy individuals who repeatedly create disputes within the party.
His remarks pointed to another challenge facing established political parties: managing internal disagreements while maintaining discipline and public trust.
From party offices to citizens’ doorsteps
Thapa said organizational reform would also be a priority for the Nepali Congress.
He said the party should not remain focused mainly on offices, conventions and internal activities.
Instead, he proposed an organization that remains connected with citizens and can support farmers, young people, minorities and others facing difficulties.
He said the party should be available to citizens when they need help rather than becoming active mainly during elections and conventions.
‘Delivery and dignity’ as a political agenda
Thapa said the Congress needed to move beyond defending the achievements of democracy and focus on delivering services and dignity to citizens.
He stressed the need to balance democracy with effective public service, freedom with prosperity, and the experience of older leaders with the energy of younger generations.
The focus on delivery and dignity reflects growing public expectations that political parties should be judged not only by their political positions but also by their performance in government and their ability to improve people’s lives.
Convention to decide future direction
The 15th General Convention is expected to go beyond the election of new party officials.
Delegates are set to discuss the party’s political and organizational direction, leadership renewal, electoral reform, economic policy and its relationship with a changing society.
Following the inauguration, the Congress is scheduled to hold closed-door discussions on political and organizational issues before proceeding with the election of new leadership.
For Thapa, the challenge is to make the Congress relevant to current political, economic and social concerns while preserving its historical role in Nepal’s democratic movement.
Whether the proposals presented at the convention will become formal party policy and eventually lead to national-level reforms will depend on internal agreement within the Congress and support from other political forces.
The convention has therefore raised a broader question for the Nepali Congress: whether it can combine its historical legacy with leadership renewal, institutional reform and a credible response to the economic and social concerns of a new generation.
