KATHMANDU, May 31: By the end of their last conversation in July 2024, political allies-turned-contenders Dr Shekhar Koirala and Gagan Thapa had gone from standing shoulder to shoulder to drifting into separate lanes of Nepali Congress (NC) politics. For nearly a year, not a word passed between them.
But on a warm Friday afternoon in Baluwatar, the silence finally broke.
The meeting was more than just symbolic. It brought two of the widely seen presidential candidates of the largest political party in the federal parliament face to face, reigniting conversations about the party's future, government affairs—and most intriguingly, the fast-approaching 15th General Convention.
A political brotherhood interrupted
Dr Koirala and General Secretary Thapa were once the power duo of NC reform. Back in the 14th General Convention held in 2021, Dr Koirala stood for party president, with Gagan Thapa running as general secretary from the same camp. Thapa emerged victorious; Dr Shekhar lost to Sher Bahadur Deuba in the second round. Still, it marked the rise of a new alliance—ambitious, energetic and eager to challenge the old guard.
For two years after the convention, Dr Koirala and Thapa stood united, often pushing back against the party establishment’s heavy hand. But somewhere along the way, ambition got in the way of alignment.
Their political movements grew solitary. Separate speeches, separate tours, separate strategies. As whispers of their mutual presidential ambitions grew louder, so did the distance between them.
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Since July last year, their relationship had gone cold. Not even a phone call.
Breaking the ice at Baluwatar
Fast forward to May 30, 2025.
Amid mounting pressure from within the party and intensifying speculation about Deuba’s successor, Dr Koirala and Thapa finally met. Sources say the meeting was arranged discreetly, attended by key party figures including Vice-President Dhanraj Gurung, Joint General Secretary Jeevan Pariyar and Central Committee member Sanjay Kumar Gautam.
The setting may have been political, but the stakes were personal.
“They spoke one-on-one after the group discussions,” said Gautam. “They talked about the government, the party and most importantly, the 15th General Convention. The dialogue has resumed—and that’s a good sign.”
According to insiders, this isn’t just a one-time reunion. Talks will now continue and leaders close to both camps are hopeful that the duo could rebuild the coordination that once made them a formidable team.
The convention clock is ticking
Under party rules, the NC must hold its 15th General Convention within six months. But few believe that deadline will be met. The party statute allows a six-month extension if necessary—and most party insiders are banking on it.
Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba and senior leader Dr Shashank Koirala have proposed delaying the convention until after the 2027 parliamentary elections. But Dr Shekhar Koirala and Thapa, who represent the anti-establishment faction, are insisting that the timeline be respected.
With the leadership race heating up, more names are entering the fray: Purna Bahadur Khadka, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Prakash Man Singh, Bimalendra Nidhi and Dr Shashank Koirala among them. But few command the grassroots energy or youth appeal that Shekhar and Gagan do—especially if they join forces again.
A fragile alliance or a new beginning?
Behind the scenes, lunch meetings and informal negotiations are already taking place. The goal? Convince Deuba to endorse a successor and avoid a fractured leadership battle. The message from the top, sources say, is clear: agree on one candidate.
But what happens when both Dr Shekhar and Gagan believe they are the candidate?
That unresolved ambition was at the heart of their year-long silence. Neither seems willing to step aside and it’s unclear if either is ready to compromise. Still, their renewed dialogue offers a glimmer of hope—for unity, for strategy and for a credible challenge to the establishment.
“There were reasons they couldn’t meet for so long,” said Gautam. “But those days are over. We’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
As the countdown to the convention begins, all eyes are on whether Dr Koirala and Thapa can recreate the political chemistry that once energised a generation of NC supporters. For now, the silence is broken. Whether the alliance is rebuilt—that remains the next big question.
