Gagan Thapa Resigns as Nepali Congress President Following Election Defeat
19th March 2026, Kathmandu
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Nepal’s political landscape, Gagan Kumar Thapa has officially tendered his resignation as the President of the Nepali Congress (NC).
Gagan Thapa Resigns Nepali Congress President
The decision comes in the wake of a historic electoral setback for the country’s oldest party and Thapa’s personal defeat in the Sarlahi-4 constituency.
A Crushing Defeat in Sarlahi-4
Thapa, who had consistently won from Kathmandu-4 in previous elections, chose to contest from Sarlahi-4 this year. However, he was defeated by Dr. Amaresh Kumar Singh of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Singh secured a decisive victory with a margin of over 12,000 votes, ending Thapa’s 18-year consecutive run in Parliament.
Nepali Congress Facing “Worst-Ever” Results
The resignation is not just a result of a personal loss but reflects the broader performance of the Nepali Congress. In a dramatic shift in Nepalese politics, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by Rabi Lamichhane and Prime Ministerial candidate Balen Shah, secured a near two-thirds majority.
The Nepali Congress finished a distant second, managing only 38 seats (18 direct and 20 proportional) the party’s lowest tally in its democratic history.
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Resignation and Internal Party Dynamics
Thapa submitted his resignation to Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma on Wednesday. While several high-ranking leaders and youth cadres urged him to stay and lead the party through its reform phase, Thapa maintained that he must take moral responsibility for the election outcome.
Thapa had only recently taken the helm of the party following a Special General Convention in January 2026, where he replaced long-time leader Sher Bahadur Deuba with a mandate for “generational change.”
What’s Next for Nepali Congress?
The future of the NC leadership now hangs in the balance. The party has called an emergency Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting for Friday to discuss the resignation.
The committee will decide whether to accept Thapa’s departure or ask him to continue as a caretaker until a new convention can be organized.
