KATHMANDU: Senior figures within the non-establishment faction of the Nepali Congress have mounted strong pressure on Party President Gagan Kumar Thapa, demanding immediate steps toward internal unity and accusing the current leadership of driving the party into division.

Speaking at an event organized at Nepal Academy to mark the 44th BP Memorial Day, prominent leaders urged Thapa to shed hesitation, embrace open dialogue, and take full responsibility for party consolidation.

Former General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula delivered a passionate call to President Thapa, urging him to act with courage and sincerity to forge unity. “Be courageous, be candid, and open your heart to declare that you reunited the Congress,” Sitaula said. “If anyone stands in your way, push them aside—don’t let them derail the party. Do you not have this courage?”

Echoing similar sentiments, former General Secretary Shashank Koirala issued a statement stressing that the primary responsibility for addressing grievances and strengthening organizational unity lies with the incumbent leadership.

Koirala stated that a truly unified Congress can only be built when the leadership respects every worker’s dignity and fosters an environment of dialogue and collaboration.

Meanwhile, leader Prakash Sharan Mahat criticized President Thapa’s style of governance, pointing out that even historic leader Girija Prasad Koirala always consulted colleagues, whereas the current leadership suffers from an urge to rule unilaterally.

Adding to the critique, leader NP Saud highlighted that the vast majority of party cadres who suffered and sacrificed for the party now stand with the non-establishment faction.

Emphasizing that party workers are “neither slaves nor corpses, but the party’s foundation,” Saud urged those who assumed leadership through the special general convention to recognize the split and actively work toward genuine unity.