Gagan Thapa has resigned as president of the Nepali Congress following the party’s poor performance in the recent parliamentary elections and his own defeat in Sarlahi. He submitted his resignation to Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma, according to party officials.
The resignation will be discussed at the upcoming central working committee meeting on Friday, at which a decision on its approval will be made. Sources close to Sharma said he had informally urged Thapa to reconsider, but the request was declined.
Pressure had been mounting on Thapa to step down as vote counting progressed, with critics blaming his leadership for the party’s weak showing. Under party rules, the vice president will assume interim leadership if the resignation is accepted, and a special convention must be held within six months.
Thapa was elected unopposed during a special convention in January, though the process remains under legal challenge.
