Dispute Over Selection of Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party Leader: Gagan Prefers Mohan, Bishma Supported by Bishwaprakash

Nearly two months after the completion of the House of Representatives election, the Nepali Congress has yet to select its parliamentary party leader. The delay in the leadership selection process is due to a lack of consensus between party President Gagan Thapa and Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma. Although an election committee was formed on Chaitra 24 (early April), the schedule for the leadership election has been postponed due to ongoing disagreements. Kathmandu, 10 Baisakh.

Despite nearly two months having passed since the House of Representatives election, the Nepali Congress has struggled to finalize its parliamentary party leader. The delay by the main opposition party has impeded the full formation of the Constitutional Council, affecting its operations. Party President Gagan Thapa favors Mohan Acharya, a directly elected member of parliament, for the leadership, while Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma has proposed proportional representative MP Bishma Raj Angdembe.

Mohan Acharya was directly elected from Rasuwa, whereas Bishma Raj Angdembe is a proportional representative MP from Panchthar. Angdembe was appointed co-general secretary during the party’s 14th general convention. A senior Congress leader attributes the delay in finalizing the parliamentary party leader mainly to the lack of consensus between President Thapa and Vice President Sharma. The election committee coordinator, Prakash Rasaili, had initially announced that the election schedule would be published on 2 Baisakh and the election held on 4 Baisakh. However, the schedule was not released on time and was instead published on 7 Baisakh.

Congress leaders state that the delay in selecting the parliamentary party leader has occurred because President Thapa has been engaged in efforts to build consensus. “The delay is due to various attempts to secure unanimity,” said a senior official. Since the 2064 BS election (2007/08), the party leader has never been selected by unanimous decision in the parliamentary history of Congress. Leaders indicate that this time as well, the leader will likely be chosen through a voting process.