'Musical chair' politics has brought the situation of Bhadau 23 and 24, says Gagan Thapa

Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa said that the tendency of the same faces repeatedly holding power and leadership has turned Nepal's politics into a "musical chair." Addressing the opening session of the party's 15th convention, which began Sunday at Khula Manch in Kathmandu, he said this tendency has sent the message that all parties and leaders are the same, and that this is why the situation of Bhadau 23 and 24 arose.

Thapa acknowledged that the party had failed to function properly since 2070 BS, which led it to its present situation. He said the spirit of the Congress lies in the ideas of BP Koirala and Ganesh Man Singh, and that its working style and culture must now change.

A chair was kept vacant at the convention for former president Sher Bahadur Deuba, but Thapa said Deuba did not come. "How many times should we go, and how should we go to fetch him?" he said.

Commenting that Parliament is not open due to the absence of Prime Minister Balen Shah, Thapa said Parliament, Singha Durbar, digital space and political parties all need a "Khula Manch" (open forum). He also stressed that there should be dialogue, not comments, between the hills and Madhesh.