Speaking from the special general convention venue, General Secretary Thapa rejects the establishment faction’s expulsion decision and claims the process to select a new executive committee is already underway
Kathmandu —
Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa issues a strong response to reports that the establishment faction has decided to expel him and other leaders from the party. Addressing party members at the special general convention venue on Wednesday, Thapa states that the Nepali Congress is not a private company and that no one has the authority to expel members at will.
He says that regardless of whatever decisions are announced outside, all sides must come inside the convention hall to resolve differences through dialogue. Referring to reports that a central committee meeting decided to expel two general secretaries and one joint general secretary, Thapa questions the legitimacy of the move, asking, “Is the Nepali Congress your private company that you can remove people as you wish?”
Thapa states that no one has invited them to re-enter the party, nor does anyone have the authority to order them out. He adds that the special general convention has already informed the Election Commission in due time, stressing that it is wrong for the establishment faction to assume that only they have the right to deal with the Commission.
Claiming that the central working committee led by Sher Bahadur Deuba has already been dissolved, Thapa says his group is moving ahead with the process of selecting a new executive committee. He also objects to the disciplinary action, stating that no clarification was sought from him before the decision was taken.
“I am a general secretary of the party. Before taking action, I should have at least been asked for an explanation,” Thapa says. “Even in a private company, an employee is asked for clarification.”
Thapa asserts that the Nepali Congress will not split and claims that the official party will move forward from this very special general convention. While stating that anyone could be made the prime ministerial candidate, he says it would be morally unacceptable to once again nominate Sher Bahadur Deuba as the party’s candidate for prime minister.