Nepal's political journey over the past two decades is not just a story of power shifts - it is a symbol of a historic journey of struggle, cooperation and reconstruction. In this journey, the Nepali Congress, at times in the role of leader, at times coordinator and at times constitutional guardian, has led the country towards the path of democracy, stability and inclusive governance.

This journey from people's movement to federalism, from constitution to stability was made possible by the consensus-culture, institutional commitment and constitutional loyalty of the Congress.

During the monarchy crisis of 2062-63, the country was in serious uncertainty. At that time, the 12-point agreement between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists under the leadership of the then Congress President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala (February 2062) was not just a political agreement, it was the beginning of Nepal's renaissance.

The Nepali Congress coordinated this agreement and determined the direction of the movement, and faith in democracy was restored among the people. As a result of that cooperation, the people's movement in April 2063 ended the monarchy's monopoly and the House of Representatives was reestablished. That was not only a moment of change, but also the goal of the rebirth of people's power, in which the Congress stood at the forefront.

After the people's movement, the coordination of Nepal's peace process also came into the hands of the Congress. Bringing the Maoists into the political mainstream, drafting an interim constitution, and declaring a republic—all these steps were the result of the Congress’s patience, restraint, and consensus. The party made dialogue and cooperation between different ideologies possible, which transformed Nepal from a violent conflict to a constitutional democracy. The Congress played the role of this ‘bridging force’, which put the country on the path to stability until the second Constituent Assembly elections in 2070.

The democratic constitution promulgated on Asoj 3, 2072 is the most important achievement in Nepal’s modern history. It institutionalized the pillars of federalism, proportional inclusion, fundamental rights, secularism, and balance of power. This constitution is not just a legal document, but a tangible symbol of the people’s sacrifice, consensus, and constitutional faith. Under the leadership of the then Congress President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, the Congress not only passed the constitution, but also started a new chapter of national consensus.

However, the implementation of the constitution was not easy. Madhesh, Tharuhat and identity-based movements demanded a reconsideration of the federal demarcation and representation issues. The Congress showed the flexibility to address these grievances through dialogue and amendments.

The dissolution of the House of Representatives by the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli government in BS 2077-78 put Nepal's democracy to the test again. Against the executive's decision, the Supreme Court issued a historic order and directed the appointment of Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba as the Prime Minister. This precedent restored the spirit of the Constitution.

After the BS 2079 general election, the Congress once again became the largest party. Despite not having an absolute majority, the party continued cooperation and stability. Despite the ups and downs of forming and breaking alliances, the Congress did not abandon the practice of constitutional dignity and policy balance. When a new power equation was formed in BS 2081, the Congress shouldered the responsibility of preserving democratic balance despite being in the opposition. This shows that the politics of the Congress is not power-oriented, but principle-oriented.

BS The journey from 2063 to 2082 brings a common conclusion – Nepal’s stability depends on consensus, constitutionalism and restraint. The Congress has put this formula into practice. The consensus in the 2063 People’s Movement, the collaboration in the 2072 Constitution and the constitutionalism in the judicial restoration in 2078 – all these events are proof of the unwavering commitment of the Congress.

Now the country’s challenges are of a different nature. The people have high expectations for development and employment, economic dynamism is slow and institutional capacity is weak. In such a situation, the Congress should focus on policy continuity and implementation.

A review of federalism is also a necessity of the moment. The distribution of powers and resources among the provinces should be clarified. The electoral system should be reformed to bring a balance between proportionality and direct systems so that the people’s votes are reflected in real representation. The legal structure should be strengthened to ensure the financial transparency and internal democracy of the parties. Only with such institutional reforms will judicial-political disputes decrease and trust in the Constitution be strengthened.

An organizational renaissance has become inevitable within the Congress as well. Policy clarity, organizational restructuring, and leadership coordination are essential through a timely general convention. Data-based decision-making, digital policymaking, and result-focused leadership will transform the Congress into a future-oriented and practical organization. The Congress has made history – now it must build the future.

In the current political landscape, the emergence of left unity and independent forces is creating a new equation. However, history has repeatedly shown that politics based on a single idea cannot provide long-term stability. Collaboration, dialogue, and a middle-of-the-road approach are the real path to Nepal's political stability. On this path, the Congress can re-establish itself as the 'center of balance'. When there is polarization everywhere, the Congress can become a bridge of consensus.

Today, Nepal is surrounded by economic uncertainty, foreign dependence, and political distrust. In such a situation, the only formula for regaining public trust can be this – consensus first, power later. Only the politics of consensus can ensure long-term stability. Power is temporary, the constitution is permanent – ​​this is a reality that the Congress has deeply understood and this is the backbone of its political philosophy.

Now, the Congress should initiate an all-party dialogue, where the voices of all parties, civil society, the young generation and the private sector are included. Self-reflection and non-partisan policy reforms are necessary within the parties. The Congress should respond to the transparency, efficiency and sustainability demanded by the young generation through its own reforms so that the people believe that the Congress is not only the pride of the past, but also the guide for the future.

Nepal's transformation is still incomplete, but the direction of the journey is right. The Constitution is our common foundation and the Congress is the party that protects that foundation. If the Congress continues its restraint, cooperation and constitutional loyalty, democracy will be transformed into stability. This will rekindle public trust and Nepal will move forward firmly on the journey of good governance, prosperity and national pride.

The current Nepali political crisis is not just a dispute over power-sharing, it is a major crisis of systemic instability and trust. Frequent changes of government, factionalism within the party, lack of policy continuity and indifference to the constitutional essence have weakened the democratic structure. As parties focus on gaining power, people-oriented issues such as good governance, employment, economic growth, and service delivery have been neglected.

There are three ways to resolve the current crisis. First: Create a new basis for party consensus and ensure policy continuity in accordance with the constitutional spirit, second: Strengthen the role of parliament and prevent abuse of power, and third: Promote internal democracy and transparency within the party and advance the new generation into leadership.