Gagan Thapa briefs party on provincial government formation and alliances

Kathmandu. Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has informed the central working committee about the party's stance on provincial government formation and alliances. Briefing at the party's central office in Sanepa, Lalitpur, President Thapa claimed that Congress has prevented the attempt by some parties to make provincial assemblies without an opposition. Speaking at the meeting, Thapa clarified that Nepali Congress did not agree with Nepali Communist Party and CPN (UML) on forming a government with all parties and making the assembly without an opposition. 'We clearly said - Nepali Congress does not want to make a provincial assembly without a main opposition,' Thapa said, 'A strong opposition is essential in a democracy, so we could not agree to all forces rushing into the government.' General Secretary Thapa informed the meeting that only after this ideological stance taken by Congress, a new agreement was formed among other parties. According to him, Congress prioritized the dignity of the parliamentary system and the role of the opposition over the distribution of power. 'When discussing the arithmetic of the provincial assembly and alliances, we took the stance that the role of the opposition should not be weakened,' Thapa said, 'Only after our stance, a different kind of agreement was formed among other parties.' Thapa is giving a detailed briefing on the recent political developments in the provinces, the balance of power, and the role of Congress at the ongoing central committee meeting in Sanepa. The meeting is also discussing Congress's future strategy and its presence in provincial governments.