Thapa proposes local members pick candidates, state funding tied to votes, 17-point code of conduct

Nepali Congress president Gagan Kumar Thapa has proposed that the party's candidates in elections be chosen by members of the same constituency rather than from Kathmandu.

Speaking at the closed session of the convention on Monday, he said the party president too should be elected by all members, not by the convention. He said there should be a provision for members to ratify Central Committee decisions, and that everyone's membership should be updated after the convention.

Thapa also pledged to field women as mayor or chair candidates in 100 of the 753 local government units in the upcoming local elections. He said an election bureau will be set up at the central office to select candidates, and that only those who have completed the leadership academy course will be eligible for candidacy.

His political proposal, titled 'National Renaissance and Prosperity', includes providing state funds to parties based on the votes they win in elections. The document states that this support will be tied to strict financial discipline and mandatory public audits.

The proposal also commits to a two-year 'cooling-off' period for constitutional appointments, and to not making appointments based on party proximity or family ties. It includes a point that the party will not give political protection to its own members facing corruption allegations.

Thapa warned that as public dissatisfaction grows, a people's uprising could erupt at any time.

At the session, Vice-President Biswaprakash Sharma presented the current affairs report, General Secretary Pradeep Paudel the organizational report, and Treasurer Umesh Shrestha the financial report.