The ideological and organizational 'rebellion' started by General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma from within the party has shaken politics at the moment. UML leaders and Gen-G leaders have made interesting comments on social media, both for and against.
What you should know
The political circle has become agitated over the special general convention called by Nepali Congress general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma. The ideological and organizational 'rebellion' initiated by Thapa and Sharma from within the party has created a political uproar at this time.
The leaders of the main opposition UML and the new generation 'Gen-G' leaders have made interesting comments on social media regarding the move of the two general secretaries who stood in favor of the special general convention, saying 'Congress is not a party of corpses and slaves'.
UML Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai has expressed solidarity with the move of the two general secretaries of the Congress and praised them. Recalling that he had also raised his voice within the party in the past, he wrote on social media, 'We spoke, we did something. You spoke, you did more than us. Greetings, friends!'
Similarly, former UML central member Usha Kiran Timilsina has congratulated the two young leaders of the Congress, calling them 'supporters of change'. She has expressed her appreciation for Gagan and Bishwaprakash, saying that they have successfully fulfilled the political responsibility that has fallen on their shoulders.
Along with UML leaders, Gen-G leaders have expressed respect for Bishwa Gagan's rebellion. Gen-G leader Bhavana Raut has interpreted this turmoil within the Congress as an opportunity to strengthen the party's internal democracy. She wrote, 'The trend represented by Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma is not rebellion, but internal accountability. Being uncomfortable with leadership questions and using power to suppress critical voices makes the need for change even clearer.' According to Raut, this courage could be a new beginning not only for the Nepali Congress but also for the country's political culture.
Another Gen-G leader Arnab Chaudhary has questioned the future course of action, saying that the special general convention of the Congress has instilled hope among the citizens. 'It is felt that the Congress leaders are trying to communicate directly with the citizens and have internalized the issues of good governance raised by Gen-G,' he wrote, 'They seem ready to lead towards the possibilities of the future, but what are the concrete steps now?'
Not only have Gagan and Vishwakarma's steps been praised, leaders within the UML have also opposed their comments. UML Secretary Mahesh Basnet has strongly criticized Gagan-Vishwprakash's latest statement. He has questioned on social media that they did not defend the leadership during the crisis, saying, 'A 'corpse' that has forgotten even humanity, which we filled with hope and breath, has now gathered some flesh and started saying that we are not corpses and slaves. History will definitely ask, if not a corpse, who filled it with hope and breath?' He has also commented that it is not bravery to dig up the ashes of the party leadership and fulfill the wishes of the enemy.
Similarly, UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has interpreted the internal strife in the Congress in terms of 'slavery' and 'self-respect'. Stating that it is courage to stand against geopolitical interests and anarchy, Pokharel has written, 'Yes, those who cannot celebrate when the country is burning may seem like 'slaves' to some. But those so-called slaves may also be the Spartacuses of today, who will build a new foundation for the modern world order.'
