Congress’ Gagan Thapa calls for December convention
In the wake of the Gen Z protests and growing calls for restructuring in traditional parties, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa on Thursday proposed holding the party’s 15th general convention by December, abandoning earlier demands for a special convention. The Kathmandu Post
Political developments
In the meeting of the current and former office bearers of the party, Thapa, who has been critical of the party leadership’s functioning and was in a ‘revolt’ mood following the Gen Z movement, proposed holding general convention of the party as per the regular schedule. The Kathmandu Post
“Now time has come to hold the regular general convention, so Thapa proposed holding the general convention as per the regular schedule. A new leadership ahead of the upcoming election would make a significant impact,” said a leader close to Thapa. The Kathmandu Post
Since September 12, an interim Cabinet led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has been in place, with the mandate of holding elections on March 5. The Hindu
“Everyone must realise the spirit of the protests… reform in a nutshell. Now the interim government is there with the mandate to hold elections, and that should be the goal,” said Raskshya Bam, who organised and participated in the protests. The Hindu
Floods, landslides and relief demands
The devastating floods and landslides that battered eastern Nepal on October 4 and 5 incurred huge damage on development infrastructure like roads, bridges and drinking water projects across Koshi province. According to a joint report by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development and the Ministry of Energy, Drinking Water and Irrigation of Koshi province, the two-day disaster caused damage worth over Rs2.06 billion to public infrastructure. The Kathmandu Post
The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), has called on the government to immediately introduce a relief package to support the reconstruction of hydropower projects severely impacted by recent floods. The IPPAN proposed that the package should address extension of RCOD and license periods, loan rescheduling, long-term financing, and customs duty waivers on essential equipment. The Rising Nepal
Due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rains on October 3-5, 20 hydropower projects in operation have been affected, of which 17 hydropower projects with a capacity of 135 MW have been completely shut down. Seventeen under-construction hydropower projects with a capacity of 520 MW have also been affected by the floods. The Rising Nepal
Transport and movement
Preparations were underway to resume vehicular movement along the BP Highway via temporary diversion after damage and blockages caused by the recent flooding and landslides. Officials said diversion construction along the damaged sections had been completed, allowing vehicles to operate again on the key route. myRepublica / The Rising Nepal coverage cited in top stories
Nearly 800,000 passengers have left Kathmandu Valley for Dashain celebrations, with road obstructions caused by landslides and flooding affecting journeys and travel plans. Ratopati roundup
International and sport briefs
South Korean author Han Kang has won the Nobel Prize in Literature; she was praised for “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” Ratopati summary
In the latest ICC One Day International rankings, Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane climbed two positions to secure the 39th spot in the all-rounder category. Ratopati roundup
Background context & expert reactions
The month since the Gen Z protests has been uneasy: the protests toppled the government and left the country with an interim administration tasked with delivering timely elections and democratic reforms. Analysts warn the interim government faces a narrow window to build confidence for elections and that party reform pressures persist. The Hindu analysis
Thapa said, “The main message of the Gen Z movement is to remove the established leadership… Therefore, under no circumstances will the term of this working committee be extended.” The Kathmandu Post
“The government and political parties appear to hold each other in deep contempt, which is likely to spoil the environment for elections,” an analyst warned in coverage of post‑protest dynamics. The Hindu
Share Your Thoughts
- How do you think the Nepali Congress’ move to hold a regular convention by December will affect demands for internal reform?
- What should the interim government prioritise to ensure peaceful, credible elections in March?
- How can reconstruction after the floods be balanced with resilience measures to reduce future landslide risks?
- What role should youth-led groups play in shaping party reforms and national policy ahead of the elections?