Gagan Thapa pledges accountability, reforms, and $2,500 per capita income

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has acknowledged government missteps during the Gen Z revolt last Sept and pledged that the party will take responsibility for its shortcomings.

Speaking at the party’s election pledge assembly on Thursday in Kathmandu, Thapa also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the uprising.

Recalling the people’s movements of 2007, 2046, and 2063/64 BS, Thapa emphasized that the party takes pride in its historical struggles for democracy. He stressed that only by addressing the demands raised by youths on Sept 8 and 9 can the party truly honor their legacy.

“During Sept 8, mistakes were made on the government’s part. We were part of that government, and we must take responsibility for our weaknesses. We do take it, and we ask forgiveness from those who lost their lives during the movement. We take pride in the movements of 2007, 2046, and 2063/64 BS. However, the demands raised by youths on Sept 8 and 9 must be fulfilled for us to honor that movement,” Thapa said.

Thapa also vowed that Nepali Congress will avoid unconstitutional or unnatural political coalitions in the future.

On governance reforms, he announced plans to reduce the number of ministries at both the federal and provincial levels. Under his proposal, there will be a maximum of 16 ministries at the federal level and 6 at the provincial level, with no party allowed to increase ministries for coalition-sharing purposes.

He described the party-led governments after 2046 BS as a “golden era” and claimed that Nepal’s post-2046 political and economic transformations were based on policies and models adopted by the Congress. Addressing past political upheavals and public uprisings, Thapa pledged to compensate for all losses caused by natural and political causes within the next five years. He also committed to raising Nepal’s per capita income to USD 2,500 in that timeframe.

“Federal government will have only 16 ministries and provinces only 6. No party will be allowed to increase ministries for coalition-sharing. We consider the Congress-led governments post-2046 BS as a golden era. Nepal’s current political and economic framework is based on policies adopted after 2046. We will compensate for all losses caused by natural or political factors within the next five years and raise per capita income to USD 2,500,” he said.

Thapa further pledged that appointments in constitutional commissions will no longer be based on political quotas and promised a five-year goal to eliminate corruption entirely. Recognizing youths as partners of the present rather than just future leaders, he committed to creating an environment where they can exercise all rights guaranteed by the constitution.