KATHMANDU, JANUARY 17 While Gagan Thapa has taken charge of the Nepali Congress as president from yesterday following the decision of the Election Commission, youth and Gen Z in the party unequivocally expressed that this is a win for democracy and the new generation. Following Gagan Thapa's election as president of the Nepali Congress, The Himalayan Times interviewed Gen Z and youth leaders in the party to understand what they think of the new leadership and change. Binod Raj Joshi described how he became ideologically aligned with the Nepali Congress after studying BP Koirala and the 2007 revolution in school and got into student politics but grew frustrated with the party's status quo, culminating in the September 8 movement as a wake-up call for reform. 'We needed a revolution for a quantum leap in the party,' he told THT. Joshi supported a special convention-enabled by party statute Section 17- for leadership change from Sher Bahadur Deuba's syndicate to Gagan Thapa's group, as well as policy changes such as merit-based tickets and anti-corruption measures through a 'Gen Z Democrats Manifesto'. 'It was not fun to say we are congressmen outside; we couldn't say it with full confidence, happiness, or pride,' he said. Though there is still a long way to go, he sees this grassroots uprising as Nepal's first intra-party revolution and a springboard for genuine change through democratic decision-making, checks on leaders, and revitalised public hope. 'For change, both policy and leadership must change- this was hugely felt by the young generation inside the Nepali Congress. However, real change hasn't come completely yet,' he cautioned. Reeta Pariyar attributed the change to the Gen Z revolution. According to her, the change was inevitable, but the Gen Z protest transformed the Nepali Congress and strengthened the democracy. 'However, the credit must be given to Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma for standing for the generational transformation in the party. This is the win for democracy,' said Pariyar. Dr Santosh Upadhyaya expressed his support for Gagan Thapa as a generational necessity rather than mere personality worship. He argued that traditional leadership is no longer relevant in today's rapidly changing world. Upadhyaya viewed Thapa as the 'connecting dot' who possesses the necessary experience, democratic understanding, and geopolitical awareness that many new 'alternative' politicians lack. Thapa's audacity in claiming leadership, as well as his commitment to a political exit strategy. He described Thapa as the best 'leader' for cultivating the Nepali Congress's vast, untapped potential. 'I'm not supporting Gagan, but I'm supporting the generation. As per the need of the time, there are certain leaders who are more relatable, rational, and connected to the people,' he said. 'He (Gagan Thapa) is the one who is in the central intersection. He has everything. Gagan Thapa is the most relatable person right now to rescue the country from this current situation. He has said that he is going to exit from politics in the next 10 years ... That is what we are requiring, actually.' Rejina Khadka, 23, and Rajendra Rokaya, 25, both seconded Upadhayaya, citing the urgency of the situation. They emphasised change as the reason for supporting Gagan Thapa and the larger movement for leadership change within the Nepali Congress party. Khadka, who was also a regional representative at the convention and a participant in the 'Gen Z' protests, contended that traditional, senior leadership has created a bottleneck, preventing younger, more knowledgeable generations from serving. They also cited new party reforms, such as two-term limits for top positions, as critical to ensuring a healthy 'generational transition'. 'Gagan Thapa is portrayed not only as a politician but also as a symbolic 'agenda' for accountability and modernity. Thapa is a proven, competent leader capable of rescuing the country from stagnation.'