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It’s official—Gagan Kumar Thapa has entered the prime minister’s race. The Nepali Congress general secretary will contest the parliamentary party leadership election against the incumbent, Sher Bahadur Deuba, on Wednesday. Thapa, 46, is widely regarded as one of the most popular leaders both inside and outside his party. Many see him as the future of Nepal’s grand old party. Inside the NC, winning the PP leader election is a prerequisite for becoming a prime ministerial candidate. Thapa’s candidacy was made possible after senior leader Shekhar Koirala, Deuba’s main rival in the party, decided not to run in the election. Koirala will be supporting Thapa’s bid for PP leadership. Party leaders say Koirala agreed to pave the way for Thapa on the condition that the latter reciprocate the support when he runs for the party presidency in 2025. Koirala and Thapa had worked together in the 14th general convention of the party held in 2021 when Koirala lost the leadership race to Deuba and Thapa was elected general secretary. After the Nov 20 general elections, both Koirala and Thapa were planning to vie in the PP election to unseat Deuba, a record five-time prime minister who is now plotting for a sixth stint. Youth NC leader Pradeep Poudel and General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma have also supported Thapa’s bid. Meanwhile, senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel has backed Deuba. A one-time rival of Deuba, it is said Poudel agreed to help the incumbent after he was offered the party’s candidate for the next president of the country. In terms of numerical strength, Deuba, 76, holds a considerable sway in the party. Party leaders say it won’t be easy for Thapa. Out of 89 lawmakers elected from the party this past election, nearly 60 belong to the Deuba camp. The party statute states that a PP leader candidate should muster the support of 50 percent lawmakers. Political analyst Bishnu Dahal says this is a big opportunity for Thapa to emerge as a serious contender for the party leadership, though the chances of him winning the PP election appears slim. He adds that Thapa will have to garner a sizable vote numbers in order to strengthen his position in the NC. Senior journalist Harihar Birahi, who closely follows Congress politics, has termed Thapa’s PP leadership bid as “bold and courageous”. He says Thapa has galvanized the party’s rank and file who have long desired for a change. Birahi adds Koirala’s move to back Thapa is also meaningful in that he has shown that unlike Deuba, he is willing to give young leaders a chance to lead. Deuba’s political journey Born in 1946 in a socially and economically backward far-western region, Deuba began his political career as a student leader.  He became the chairman of the party’s far-western students’ committee from 1965 to 1968.  In 1994, he was elected as PP leader for the first time, which paved the way for him to become prime minister. Deuba went on to cement his position in the party, and in the 10th general convention of the NC held in 2001, he contested for party presidency. In 2002, he broke away from the party due to the differences with the then party president, Girija Prasad Koirala. In the process, around 40 percent of leaders and cadres joined the Deuba-led Nepali Congress (Democratic). The incident showed Deuba’s influence in the party. Deuba returned to NC in 2006, taking 40 percent share in all party organizations. His ambition to become the party president materialized in 2016. After Deuba failed to garner 51 percent votes to win the presidency outright in the 13th general convention, a second round of vote was conducted. And this time, he received 58 percent of the vote with the support of the Krishna Prasad Sitaula faction. Deuba’s marriage with Arzoo Rana also helped him strengthen his position in national politics as well as in the party. It was Arzoo who helped Deuba connect with the monarchy. In the late 1990s, when the monarchy had a powerful influence in politics, Deuba became prime minister for two terms in 2004-2005, and 2001-2002. Thapa’s political journey A former student leader, Thapa has risen through the party ranks in an incredible fashion. Born in Kathmandu in 1976, Thapa was elected as a member of Free Student Union of Trichandra College in 1993 and later went on to become the president of the campus committee. He became the general secretary of the union in 2001.  As a student leader, Thapa shot to fame for organizing protests against monarchy. He was elected as the general secretary of NC in 2021 and has previously served as a health minister. He is among the few well-read politicians of Nepal, who holds a master’s degree. He became a Congress lawmaker for the first time as a member of the first Constituent Assembly (CA) in 2008. From then on, he has continued to win elections from Kathmandu-4. He was appointed the health minister in 2017.  Thapa is popular among the party cadres, but when it comes to the Central Working Committee or PP, he has few supporters. The NC leadership structure is largely dominated by old faces, and for a young leader like Thapa to get to the top is difficult.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and party General Secretary Gagan Thapa have filed their nominations for the Parliamentary Party leader. Senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel proposed Deuba’s nomination and Vice-President Purana Bahadur Khadka seconded the proposal. Similarly, Shekhar Koirala proposed Thapa’s nomination and Dhanraj Gurung and Bishwo Prakash Sharma seconded the proposal. The election to choose the Parliamentary Party leader will be held on Wednesday. The voting will begin at 8 am and end at 10 am tomorrow at the party’s Parliamentary Party office in Singhadurbar.      

Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala said that he proposed Gagan Thapa as the candidate of the Parliamentary Party as per the wishes of the young generation. During a meeting held on Tuesday, Koirala said that he proposed Thapa as the candidate of the Parliamentary Party leader as he is in favor of generational transformation. Leader Koirala made it clear that Thapa is his candidate. “Gagan is dynamic. Youths also want him to be the Parliamentary Party leader. I proposed him as the candidate of the Parliamentary Party leader as I am in favor of party transformation,” he said. NC central member Ajay Babu Shivakoti said that the meeting has decided to field General Secretary Thapa as the candidate of the Parliamentary Party leader. Meanwhile, party President Sher Bahadur Deuba is preparing filed candidacy for the post of Parliamentary Party leader from the establishment faction.  

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML Vice-Chairman and former Speaker Subash Chandra Nembang held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss a new power sharing. Nembang reached Khumaltar this morning and formally proposed Dahal to become the prime minister. During the meeting, the duo discussed a new power sharing, government formation and contemporary political issues. Vice-Chairman Nembang stressed that the left parties should come to the same place. He was of the opinion that the UML-Maoist Center government should be formed by splitting the ruling coalition. “Let the Maoist Center be ready to leave the alliance and cooperate with the UML. The UML is ready to accept you as the prime minister,” a leader said, quoting the dialogue of the two leaders. “Other posts will be shared in consensus among the senior leaders of the UML-Maoist Center.” “Leave the alliance now, UML is ready to hold discussion and cooperate with the Maoist Center. Let’s take politics ahead through a new course to take the country towards the path of stability,” the leader said. Nembang proposed a new power sharing deal with Dahal and not to include the CPN (Unified Socialist) in the government for now. “The UML is not ready to bring the CPN (Unified Socialist) in the new government. Let’s make a coalition without the CPN (US),” he said. The UML intensified meetings with senior leaders after President Bidya Devi Bhandari called on the political parties to form a new government within December 25. Earlier, CPN (Maoist Center) General Secretary Dev Prasad Gurung had held a meeting with UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli at the latter’s residence in Baluwatar. Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Dahal have been staking claim for the post of prime minister within the ruling coalition. Though Deuba had promised Dahal before the elections that he will make him the prime minister of a new government, no formal discussions have been made about the power sharing and future prime minister yet. Utilizing this opportunity, the UML has been trying to break the coalition and form its new alliance. UML leader Bishal Bhattarai had announced that the UML would move ahead if the ruling coalition failed to garner a majority. The Maoist Center has been bargaining power with the UML and the Nepali Congress parallelly. Earlier, the ruling coalition parties had decided to give continuity to the incumbent alliance. The Maoist Center, a key partner of the alliance, however, has been holding intensive talks with the UML in recent times. Second rung leaders of the UML and the Maoist Center have been mounting pressure on the Chairman duo Oli and Dahal to move forward together.