March 10, Pokhara – The Nepali Congress Gandaki Province Working Committee organized a program titled ‘Election Review and the Future Path of Congress’ on Friday in Pokhara. Party Chairperson Gagan Kumar Thapa was also present at the event. However, throughout the program, Chairperson Thapa’s expressions were neither cheerful nor enthusiastic.
During the review session, district chairpersons of the province, direct and proportional candidates, as well as central officials, delivered their statements. Gagan attentively listened to all remarks but showed little enthusiasm. This was a stark contrast to his demeanor on January 6, when he came to Pokhara for the provincial assembly before the elections held on February 13.
During the election campaign, workers rallied behind Gagan with the slogan “Now or Never, Gagan Government,” but he introduced a new slogan at that gathering — “This Time, Hundred Percent.” Congress leaders and workers echoed this chant loudly. When he visited Pokhara on February 3 for an election rally, Gagan’s enthusiasm remained consistent. He expressed, “Congress must give voters the impression of change to secure victory,” adding, “We must carry the message of change to every village. Only Congress, as the freshest party brought by the Special General Convention, offers something new.”
However, the slogan “This Time, Hundred Percent” failed to translate into electoral success; Congress managed to secure only 38 seats, less than half of the desired target. The Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which contested the election with Balendra Shah (Balen) as the candidate for future prime minister, won nearly two-thirds of the seats, and Balen has since become prime minister. Even when Balen arrived, Gagan’s expression did not noticeably change.
Out of 18 seats in Gandaki Province, Congress won only from Mustang and Manang. Following this disappointing election result, it was natural that Gagan did not appear enthusiastic at the review meeting. Various leaders analyzed the results differently, and Gagan could not evade pointed questions. Some leaders attributed Congress’s failure to unify in government to the Special General Convention, which they said contributed to the party’s weak messaging during the elections. Many described public sentiment as a ‘storm’ and felt Congress’s election strategy was ineffective.
During the review, some leaders even issued warnings directed at Gagan, implying, “Yesterday you fought against the brothers; now you should not have to fight against the leadership from the Special General Convention.” Raju Thapa, chairperson of Syangja, urged Gagan to collaborate with other leaders like outgoing Chairperson Sher Bahadur Deuba. He recalled that earlier he had suggested that Congress might have been better off not contesting the election given the unfavorable political climate. Yet now, he stressed, unifying Congress is imperative, and asked Gagan to focus on this.
“Yesterday, it was said that the brothers carried the responsibility; now it is your turn to take charge, and we hope you will not have to confront another brother,” said Syangja Chairperson Thapa. He dismissed the idea that the Special General Convention caused fluctuations in votes, adding, “The votes neither increased nor decreased because of the Convention. The national and international environment was not in our favor.” He pointed out that populism is rising worldwide, and Nepal is experiencing a similar situation.
While listening to critical leaders, Gagan nodded frequently, taking notes in his diary. At times, he recalled speakers and even conversed quietly with Vice-Chairperson Bishwprakash Sharma. Gagan, who is normally jovial and astute in demeanor, did not appear enthusiastic, which prompted one female leader to express concern and ask for an explanation.
Gagan responded, “I am in contemplation, not anxiety.” After hearing the critiques and warnings from Gandaki leaders, he clarified his state of mind: “There is a big difference between worry and contemplation. Worry relates to fear and reaction, whereas contemplation is about self-reflection and analysis. I am more in contemplation.”
“The main part of contemplation is listening to oneself and others. I am currently undertaking a campaign of speaking less and listening more,” he added. Previously, Congress spokesperson Devaraj Chalise had advised not to be disheartened by election results, stressing the difference between a battle and a war. Echoing this, Gagan emphasized that he will treat the election outcome not as a failure but as a message to move forward.
He revealed plans to conduct regular general conventions within the upcoming Ashwin month and work both at the national level as the main opposition party and as the ruling party at provincial and local levels. “The responsibility is mine; the party must be flexible and strive to unite everyone. I will fulfill that responsibility,” he said. “I will go everywhere, engage in dialogue, and try to bring everyone together.” His focus is to make Congress the first party by the next provincial and local elections.
Vice-Chairperson Bishwprakash Sharma announced that the parliamentary party leader would be selected soon. He also appealed to outgoing Chairperson Deuba to return to Nepal and support investigations. Gagan claimed that the Supreme Court is currently considering cases related to the Special General Convention’s committee, and he expects decisions to be made favorably under law.
General Secretary Pradeep Paudel noted that election styles and campaign methods have evolved, emphasizing the need to advance with technical expertise and integrity.
