Gagan Thapa Warns: ‘A Mass Uprising Could Erupt at Any Time’

Kathmandu : Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has warned that although the country may appear calm and stable from the outside, growing public frustration and anger could trigger a major mass uprising at any time.

Speaking at the closed session of the Nepali Congress’s 15th General Convention at Khulamanch on Monday, Thapa said the country may appear stable because of the two-thirds majority government and the political situation following the recent elections. However, he said dissatisfaction within society has not been adequately addressed.

Referring to recent incidents of communal tension in parts of eastern Nepal, including Sunsari and Siraha, Thapa said even a minor incident could quickly escalate under the current circumstances.

According to Thapa, Nepali society is going through deep frustration and unease. He warned that despite the election and the emergence of a new political force in government, the situation could deteriorate at any time if the underlying causes of public dissatisfaction are not addressed.

Thapa also said banks and financial institutions currently have significant liquidity, but investment has not expanded accordingly. He stressed the need to create a favorable investment environment and channel available capital into productive sectors.

Thapa Proposes Selecting Candidates at the Local Level

Thapa also proposed changes to the Nepali Congress’s existing system of selecting election candidates.

He said party members in the respective constituencies should be given the authority to select candidates from their own areas. He argued that the practice of deciding candidates for constituencies across the country from Kathmandu should come to an end.

Thapa said the party’s future policies and direction should be based on strengthening grassroots members rather than concentrating power in the party president.

He also argued that the Congress should not limit its relationship only to active party members. According to him, people who support the party but are not formal members should also have a mechanism to present their views and suggestions to the party.

Thapa proposed updating the party’s membership records after the general convention and developing a comprehensive database of its members. He said such a system would eliminate the need to rely heavily on the central leadership when selecting election candidates.