Gagan Thapa says won't join the government
KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 21
Prime Minister and President of Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba was elected the party's parliamentary party leader today.
Deuba, the only leader who has won all parliamentary elections since the restoration of democracy in 1990, secured 64 votes against NC General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa's 25 votes. All 89 NC lawmakers took part in the voting process.
After election results were announced, Thapa told mediapersons that he would work with the spirit of unity in the party, but would not join the government.
He said his decision to contest the post of the parliamentary party leader was to effect change in the party, but as he got only 25 votes that meant majority of Nepali Congress lawmakers still thought there was no need for change and the current leadership should be okay for the party.
He thanked Shekhar Koirala, Bishwa Prakash Sharma, and Pradip Paudel for supporting him, but admitted that he was expecting more votes. He said the NC should now hold talks with other parties to lead the government.
He added that if party leaders had forged agreement with coalition partners about sharing key posts and taking turns to lead the government, these issues should be transparently discussed in the party and there should be institutional decision about them. "Or else, we will not accept such decisions," Thapa warned.
Thapa objected to some lawmakers taking pictures of their voting process which was against the election code of conduct.
After becoming the NC's parliamentary party leader, it is highly likely that Deuba will lead the coalition government. In case a coalition government cannot be formed, Deuba will become the PM as the largest party's parliamentary party leader.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 22, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
