Congress chairman Thapa takes oath, says 'remove me from post if I fail'

Newly elected Nepali Congress chairman Gagan Kumar Thapa took the oath of office and secrecy on Saturday (Asoj 31). Thapa, who was elected chairman with a large majority at the party's 15th general convention, assumed office after taking the oath at a program held at the party's central office in Sanepa, Lalitpur.

Speaking after taking the oath, Chairman Thapa said no individual could be above the party. He urged party ranks to remove him from the chairmanship immediately if he fails while leading the party. He said the post of chairman is not a position of power but a responsibility, and that if he makes mistakes, the party should not have to bear the burden.

Thapa pledged to develop Congress into an institution that citizens trust and that leads an ideological and social movement. He said contemporary politics needs to move from cheap populism toward genuine democracy, and that lasting change comes not from an individual's miracle but from effective institutions.

He said that even though miracles cannot be performed overnight, Congress must make a sincere effort to create an environment where youth can live with dignity in their own country. Meanwhile, Shyam Krishna Khadgi, who contested against Thapa for the chairmanship, has congratulated Thapa.