Dr. Shekhar Koirala, a senior figure in the Nepali Congress, has characterized the party's recent electoral setback not as a definitive desertion by its base, but as a temporary "swing vote." Speaking at the 18th Annual General Assembly of the BP Smriti Community Cooperative Hospital in Kathmandu on Saturday, Dr. Koirala argued that while voters changed their preference in the last polls, they have not yet permanently abandoned the party. He stressed the urgent need for strategic intervention to prevent this temporary swing from becoming a permanent shift.
Reflecting on the party's diminished presence in Parliament, Dr. Koirala conceded that the leadership failed to interpret the public's changing desires and the emergence of a new political "hurricane." He noted that the political landscape has evolved; while the primary competition used to be with leftist forces, the new challenge stems from "liberal democrats." To counter this, he emphasized the necessity of strengthening the party organization to remain competitive in a changing ideological environment.
Addressing internal friction, Dr. Koirala touched upon the controversial special convention that saw Gagan Thapa rise to the presidency. He reminded the audience that he had initially advocated for a special convention through a Central Committee decision to avoid legal complications. Currently, the legitimacy of that process remains under judicial scrutiny following a lawsuit filed at the Supreme Court by party President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Purna Bahadur Khadka. Regardless of the court's eventual verdict, Dr. Koirala pledged his unwavering commitment to unifying the party.
Despite facing criticism on social media and from within the party ranks, Dr. Koirala dismissed rumors of his involvement in any specific faction. He asserted that his singular objective remains the restoration of the Nepali Congress as the country's leading political force in the upcoming elections. He urged intellectuals, lawyers, and professionals within the party to foster dialogue between internal groups, stating that a unified party is the only true tribute to the legacy of BP Koirala.
