NC’s internal turmoil: Gagan’s silence speaks louder than words

KATHMANDU: The Nepali Congress has once again found itself in the middle of internal tensions, and this time, it’s not just about party decisions — it’s also about who’s staying quiet.

On Asar 25, the party’s Central Disciplinary Committee took action against 18 leaders, accusing them of working against party interests during elections held nearly three years ago.

The committee, led by central member Ananda Prasad Dhungana, handed down disciplinary measures that have since shaken the already fragile unity inside the party.

Most of those punished are close to Dr. Shekhar Koirala — the leader of the party’s dissident faction.

The names include Lumbini Province General Secretary Bikram Khanal, Khotang District President Bishnu Kumar Rai, and former Gandaki Province Minister Kumar Khadka, among others.

As expected, Shekhar Koirala’s camp didn’t take the news lightly. In a meeting held on Thursday, leaders from the group strongly objected to the decision.

They called it biased, politically driven, and claimed it went against the spirit of an earlier agreement reached during a central committee meeting — an agreement that supposedly forbade such decisions from being made public at all.

But amid all this back-and-forth, one silence is standing out more than others — that of General Secretary Gagan Thapa.

Gagan’s Silence — Strategic or Sidelined?

For years, Gagan Thapa and Shekhar Koirala were seen as inseparable in party politics. But now, Gagan seems to be gradually stepping away.

His complete silence on the disciplinary action — especially when it affects many of his old allies — has raised serious questions within the party.

Some insiders even say Gagan was directly involved in making the decision. If that’s true, then he was part of the process that punished his own faction. If not, why hasn’t he said a word in their defense?

It’s not just Thapa’s silence that’s raising eyebrows. He didn’t attend Thursday’s Koirala faction meeting — and neither did any of his close allies. Names like Prakash Snehil, Pratima Gautam, Mukta Yadav, Ajay Babu Shivakoti, Ammar Singh Pun, and Madhu Acharya — all known to be close to Thapa — were absent. According to one Koirala-aligned leader, they were all invited but simply didn’t show up.

Gagan has also been missing from other internal meetings of the Koirala group for months now. Not only has he avoided showing up, but sources say he left the country for a foreign trip immediately after the disciplinary action was finalized.

No Longer With the Koirala Camp?

For a long time, Thapa was seen as a rising star within the Koirala-led opposition faction inside the party. He even won his General Secretary post with the group’s support.

But now, he seems to be shifting his political compass — not toward the opposition, not exactly toward the establishment either, but somewhere in between.

Skipping Koirala’s meetings, not standing up against disciplinary action, softening toward the Deuba camp — all of these hint that Gagan might be setting his sights on a bigger role. Perhaps even the party presidency.

And this time, he seems to be betting on the establishment’s support to get there.

Some leaders in the Koirala group now openly say: “Gagan is no longer with us. Only the official announcement remains.”

His behavior backs up that claim. It’s been months since he last attended their meetings. And even when personally requested by allies, he has chosen to stay away.

Rather than taking a stand against the action — or even saying a few words in support — Thapa has stayed completely silent. That silence has spoken louder than any statement.

Playing the Long Game?

In recent months, Gagan has been accused of positioning himself closer to the establishment in a strategic move — a slow but steady shift aimed at securing a future leadership role.

He knows he can’t become party president without support from the Deuba-led camp, and he seems to be playing accordingly.

He didn’t criticize Deuba during the last central committee meeting — a stark contrast from his earlier tone. And when other leaders like Binod Chaudhary attacked Shekhar Koirala, Gagan didn’t defend him. In fact, he reportedly echoed Chaudhary’s words.

So is Gagan Thapa slowly leaving behind his old allies to claim a new throne?

It’s a question many inside the party are asking — quietly, for now. But if recent developments are any sign, Gagan’s moves may not stay under the radar much longer.

Because sometimes, in politics, silence isn’t just a pause — it’s a message.

-Yakendra Khatri