KATHMANDU, Jan 13: Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma have unveiled an ambitious governance reform agenda, pledging to dismantle the culture of party-based appointments and power-sharing across state institutions in line with public aspirations.
Presenting separate reports during the closed-door session of the party’s special general convention at Bhrikutimandap, the two leaders stressed that meaningful change must go beyond internal party reforms and extend to the state itself if citizens are to genuinely experience good governance.
A key proposal put forward by General Secretary Thapa is a strict two-term limit for the prime minister. Reflecting widespread public sentiment—particularly among the younger generation—Thapa argued that the country’s chief executive should serve no more than two terms, requiring an amendment to the party statute.
“The proposal to limit the prime minister to two terms, in line with the aspirations of the people, party leaders, cadres, and especially the youth, will be endorsed by this special general convention,” the document states, adding, “From the Congress side, no individual will become prime minister for a third term.”
Thapa also warned of the global rise of populism and anarchism, noting that Nepal is not immune to these trends. He cautioned that such forces promote the illusion that democracy can be strengthened through shortcuts or miracles rather than institutions. Reaffirming the NC’s historic responsibility, he said strengthening liberal, inclusive democracy and a pluralistic society remains central to the party’s mission. “Democracy is not a miracle,” he wrote. “It is a system, a method, and a process.”
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Calling for reforms suited to changing times, Thapa emphasized the need for fundamental changes in party policy, leadership, and structure, taking inspiration from what he described as the Gen Z uprising. “This uprising is not just youthful anger,” his report notes. “It is a demand for economic development, good governance, and accountability.”
While highlighting the NC’s leading role in drafting Nepal’s federal democratic constitution, Thapa acknowledged that failures in delivery have deepened public frustration. Weak governance, power-sharing politics, and transactional practices among parties, he said, have fueled growing public disillusionment with politics.
Sharma calls for time-relevant party reform
Echoing the call for change, General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma proposed revising the party’s statute, working style, and programs to align with contemporary realities. Emphasizing that only those willing to change themselves can drive broader change, Sharma underscored the need to make the party more inclusive, youth-friendly, and effective.
Pledging to rebuild and rebrand the NC, Sharma called for collective national support on the path toward harmony, good governance, and prosperity. His proposals include ensuring strong youth representation in party structures—40 youths in the Central Working Committee (CWC), split evenly between those under 30 and those aged 30 to under 40. Similar provisions are proposed at provincial, district, constituency, local, and ward levels.
Sharma also advocated for a structured “lateral entry” system to bring professionals and intellectuals into party leadership. To strengthen engagement with the Nepali diaspora, he proposed creating an international structure of the Nepali People’s Contact Committee, including a 27-member International Committee formed from former country-level presidents.
The proposals further call for continent-based representation in the CWC, guaranteed inclusion of returnee migrants at all party levels, and increased representation of women and members from sister and affiliated organizations.
Highlighting the need for efficiency, the report stresses streamlining district and other committees while prioritizing organizational rebuilding, policy reform, and citizen-centric politics. Campaigns ranging from climate awareness to entrepreneurship are proposed, alongside a clear commitment to correcting past mistakes through immediate, short, and long-term strategies.
Presenting a 10-point action plan, Sharma said the NC aims to stay in continuous contact with citizens and deliver tangible results. Planned initiatives include environmental awareness campaigns, efforts to tackle administrative delays, and mobilization of party departments and affiliated organizations such as women’s groups, educators’ associations, and the Press Union.
The proposals also focus on labor rights, informal sector workers, anti-drug campaigns, reintegration of returnee migrants, long-term solutions for landless and informal settlers, education reform, and promoting entrepreneurship among party members.
Acknowledging that policy instability has hurt hydropower, agriculture, infrastructure, and the private sector, the NC pledged to ensure policy certainty. The party admitted governance failures reflected in weak capital spending and proposed curbing budget concentration in influential leaders’ constituencies in favor of proportional development. Other measures include legal provisions for three-shift infrastructure construction, ending rushed end-of-fiscal-year spending, and clearly defining responsibilities among federal, provincial, and local governments.
