Gagan Thapa is former general secretary of Nepali Congress’ student wing, NSU. He was elected to the party’s central working committee by the 12th general convention. During the recently-concluded Nepali Congress 13th convention, he was in the race for the party’s general secretary position. Thapa, who was on Krishna Prasad Sitaula’s panel, finished third in the race, won by Shashank Koirala. Onlinekhabar talked to the NC leader about the general convention and his future plans.
Where were you when the votes were being counted?
The day the counting began, there was a meeting of all the candidates. I attended the meeting where every one, including me, handed over charge to our representatives. I went home, and then I slept. I had not been able to sleep for the past 3-4 days. I received a text message after around 300 votes were counted. I was told that I received 71 votes. I stayed at home, but I was updated on the vote count.
After looking at the initial results, did you still have hope that you could win?
I was more or less ready for the result. I was expecting at least 800 votes. I think I did not get as many votes as I would have because of the smear campaign against me. They even spread rumours that I was not in the race for myself, and I was a proxy candidate.
According to the information I received, some people who I trusted to support me, let me down. I am happily surprised that despite this, I received 600 votes. Of the 600 people who voted for me, I don’t personally know the 400.
So are you happy with the result?
Yes, I am. The support, and the votes I received are important for me. Many delegates told me that I should have waited for sometime, and there were some who told me to respect family values. When I met party delegates they told me that they voted for me the last time around, and would do it again. There were some who told me that their sons and daughters had called them to press them to vote for me. Some leaders told me that they got calls from students from their own constituency asking them to vote for me! I am now certain that the Congress members have given me space.
There are many who say that this loss is the beginning of Gagan Thapa’s downfall. What is your take on that?
I don’t agree with it. If I had chosen to contest for central committee member again, I would have been in a position where I could do nothing. My downfall would have begun if I had thought of making it to the central committee again, and staying there fore five years without doing anything.
All the votes that I received were my own votes. Although I was on Krishna Sitaula’s panel, we fought our own individual battles.
What next?
It’s simple. The votes I have received have helped be get respectable space within the party. I am going to respect the vote, and continue working as a loyal member of the party. I will help the party leadership unite Nepali Congress. I will also fight those who do not want the country to walk in the direction envisaged by the constitution.
I believe that will get my party’s support for this. The people could not vote for me, but still I have support. I want to build a Congress where people are free to vote whom they want to vote for.
