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Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has resigned from his post. 

The party office has stated that Thapa tendered his resignation on Wednesday.

Thapa was unanimously elected as the President by the special general convention of the Nepali Congress held in mid-January earlier this year. 

He was under pressure to resign, following his own defeat and a poor showing of the party in the March 5 election to the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has summoned a central working committee meeting for tomorrow, Friday.

The Communist Party of China has moved swiftly to engage Nepal's emerging political leadership following the landslide victory of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in the March 5 parliamentary election, signaling a pragmatic shift in Beijing's Nepal policy amid a  changing political landscape.
In a congratulatory message from the CPC's International Department, Beijing underscored its readiness to deepen bilateral cooperation, describing Nepal and China as countries “connected by mountains and rivers” with a long-standing friendship. The CPC has indicated that the RSP is not an entirely unfamiliar political actor, noting that engagements between the two sides had taken place over the past few years.

The message reaffirmed China's commitment to advancing a strategic partnership focused on development, prosperity, and high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Notably, the CPC expressed confidence in RSP leaders Rabi Lamichhane and Balendra Shah, signaling an early effort to build rapport with Nepal's new political power center. It also highlighted ongoing party-to-party exchanges, suggesting Beijing is keen to institutionalize ties with the relatively new political force.

The electoral setback suffered by Nepal's traditional communist forces—particularly the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and the Nepal Communist Party—marks a significant turning point in both domestic politics and Nepal's external relations. Following the abolition of the monarchy in 2008, Beijing stepped up engagement with communist parties, especially the CPN-UML and the Maoist party, whose leaderships advocated for closer political and economic ties with China.

For over a decade, Beijing relied heavily on these ideologically aligned parties as stable partners. Leaders such as KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal played a central role in strengthening bilateral ties, particularly through Nepal's participation in the BRI.

Under communist-led governments, Nepal signed the BRI Memorandum of Understanding in 2017 and a framework agreement in 2025, reflecting strong political commitment to Chinese-backed infrastructure development. These administrations also facilitated unusually close ideological exchanges with Beijing, including engagement around Xi Jinping Thought.

The decline of these parties therefore represents more than an electoral shift—it disrupts a diplomatic architecture that provided China with both ideological alignment and policy continuity.

Nepal's political landscape is now more fragmented, with traditional parties losing dominance and newer actors gaining ground. The rise of the RSP reflects growing public demand for governance reform and a break from entrenched political elites.

For Beijing, this shift complicates its long-standing approach of engaging Nepal primarily through ideologically sympathetic partners. While China has begun outreach to other actors, including the Nepali Congress, its relationships with newer political figures remain relatively underdeveloped.

Emerging leaders such as Balendra Shah have also demonstrated a more assertive posture on sovereignty and foreign engagement, including decisions to cancel China visits and distance themselves from certain embassy-backed initiatives. This evolving stance signals a potential recalibration in Nepal's foreign policy tone.

China's economic and strategic interests in Nepal, especially under the BRI framework, may face new headwinds. A coalition government without strong communist representation could slow project implementation, increase scrutiny of existing agreements, and demand greater transparency in development cooperation.

Analysts suggest that new political actors may seek to renegotiate or delay previously signed agreements, potentially introducing friction into bilateral economic ties. Several incidents following the GenZ movement have heightened Beijing's concerns, especially the recent burning of Xi Jinping's book in Biratnagar.

Despite these uncertainties, Beijing's core strategic concerns remain unchanged. Tibet-related issues continue to be central, with China expecting Nepal's adherence to the One-China principle and vigilance against activities linked to figures such as the Dalai Lama.

China's initial response to Nepal’s latest political development has been measured. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning praised Nepal for conducting a smooth and peaceful election and reiterated Beijing's commitment to cooperation. Analysts, however, note that this diplomatic composure likely masks deeper strategic concerns.

Going forward, China is expected to recalibrate rather than retreat. This may involve expanding engagement with the RSP, strengthening ties with Nepal's military and bureaucratic institutions, and adopting a less ideologically driven approach to diplomacy. Beijing may also continue leveraging its relationship with figures like Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who remains politically relevant and maintains connections across party lines.

Ultimately, the post-election landscape signals a “new normal” in China-Nepal relations—one defined less by ideological alignment and more by pragmatic engagement, institutional diversification, and cautious recalibration.

The Election Commission would submit the comprehensive report along with results of the elections to the House of Representatives held on March 5 to President Ram Chandra  Paudel on Thursday.

EC Assistant Spokesperson Kul Bahadur GC said that the consolidated election report would be submitted on Thursday afternoon after presenting certificate to newly elected proportional representation (PR) lawmakers tomorrow morning.

The EC would organize a press conference at its office on Thursday evening after it submits the election report to President Paudel. 

Once the EC submits the report, it is said that the way would open for the formation of a new government in accordance with Article 76 (1) of the Constitution.  

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has got a clear majority to form a new government. 

Out of 275-member House of Representatives, 182 lawmakers of the RSP have been elected.  

GC added that preparations have been completed to present certificates to 110 newly elected members of Parliament elected from the proportional representation (PR) system under HoR election on Thursday. 

Fifty-seven lawmakers from RSP, 20 from Nepali Congress, 16 from CPN-UML, nine from Nepali Communist Party and four from Shram Sanskriti Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party each were elected under the PR election system.

Similarly, 125 members of RSP, 18 from NC, nine from UML, eight from NCP, three from Shram Sanskriti Party and one from RPP and one independent candidate were elected under the first-past-the-post election (FPTP) system of HoR elections.

Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah has said that the support and cooperation of all stakeholders are essential to ensure a smooth supply chain of essential goods, including petroleum products and cooking gas.

Speaking at a meeting held today at the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, he stressed the need to intensify market monitoring to prevent any attempts to disrupt the supply of essential goods and services. 

He stressed that stakeholders must work together to maintain an efficient and reliable supply system.

CM Shah also added that the monitoring committee, formed under the Consumers' Protection Act, its regulations, and other prevailing laws, should play an active role in preventing supplies of goods on the black- market, artificial shortages, and the sale of goods at inflated prices.

The meeting, chaired by the Chief Minister, decided to take strict action against anyone found involved in supplies on black-market, creating artificial shortages, or charging higher prices.

It also agreed to promote the efficient use of petroleum products and cooking fuel, reduce unnecessary consumption, and encourage the adoption of alternative energy sources.

Furthermore, the meeting reassured the public that there are currently no disruptions in the supply of essential goods and urged people not to be misled by rumors. 

The meeting was attended by secretaries from various ministries, Chief District Officer of Kailali, Hiralal Regmi, Chief District Officer of Kanchanpur, Madan Koirala, senior officials from the security agencies, representatives from the trade sector, and LP gas dealers, among others.