In a move aimed at fostering internal unity, Nepali Congress (NC) is set to unanimously elect Bhishma Raj Angdembe as its Parliamentary Party (PP) leader. The decision comes after a significant political shift following March 5 House of Representatives elections, where top leaders, including President Gagan Thapa, faced defeats, leaving proportional representation (PR) members to lead the legislative front.
General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire confirmed that a Central Working Execution Committee (CWC) meeting has been called for Saturday to form an election committee and formalize the selection process. Party sources reveal that the establishment faction, led by former President Sher Bahadur Deuba, has reached a consensus with the factions of Gagan Thapa and Dr. Shekhar Koirala to back Angdembe, a former Assistant General Secretary and current PR lawmaker.
While veteran leader Arjun Narasingh KC had expressed interest in the role, the party leadership—including Vice President Bishwa Prakash Sharma—reportedly advised against it to avoid criticisms regarding nepotism, given KC’s family ties to Gagan Thapa. Instead, the leadership views Angdembe as a "middle-path" candidate capable of bridging the gap between the Deuba and Thapa-Koirala camps.
Angdembe’s rising influence was evident during the first session of the new Parliament, where he occupied the primary seat on the opposition benches. During his address, he publicly aligned himself with President Gagan Thapa’s vision of "Innovation in Continuity," endorsing the transformation agenda set during the party's recent special convention. Reports suggest his parliamentary speech was drafted in coordination with Vice President Sharma, signaling a strategic alliance to consolidate power within the Koshi Province.
A descendant of Deuman Angdembe—Nepal's first Limbu minister in 1957—Bhishma Raj is set to make history as the first PP leader from the Limbu community to head the NC parliamentary party. "I have met with all senior leaders and received positive feedback," Angdembe stated, expressing confidence that the party will officially ratify his leadership in the coming days.
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