Gagan Thapa resigns as Nepali Congress president after election defeat

Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa resigned on Wednesday, submitting his letter to Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma after suffering defeat in the March 5 House of Representatives elections.

Thapa, previously elected from Kathmandu-4, contested from Sarlahi-4 this time and lost to Dr Amaresh Kumar Singh of the Rastriya Swatantra Party. The Nepali Congress won only 38 seats in total — 18 through FPTP and 20 through proportional representation — a historic low.

Thapa had been unanimously elected party president at a special general convention held ahead of the elections. Despite pressure from party members not to resign, he moved forward with the decision. The central working committee meeting on Friday will formally address his resignation.

The party’s next leadership steps will shape how Congress rebuilds ahead of local and future national contests.