Nepali Congress Nominates Bhishma Raj Angdembe as Parliamentary Party Leader

KATHMANDU – In a significant move aimed at fostering internal unity, the Nepali Congress (NC) Central Working Performance Committee has officially decided to appoint Bhishma Raj Angdembe as the leader of its parliamentary party.

The decision was reached unanimously during a committee meeting held on Sunday. This nomination is now set to undergo formal endorsement in the upcoming meeting of the parliamentary party.

A Historic Consensus

The selection of Angdembe marks a historic departure from the party’s usual internal electoral processes. This is the first time since the first Constituent Assembly elections in 2008 that the Nepali Congress has moved toward selecting a parliamentary leader through a consensus rather than a contested vote.

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Bridging the Factional Divide

Angdembe, who was elected as the party’s Joint General Secretary during the 14th General Convention under the Sher Bahadur Deuba camp, has recently positioned himself as a unifying figure. Despite his previous affiliations, he notably stayed neutral during the Special General Convention that saw Gagan Thapa elected as Party President.

In a recent social media statement, Angdembe urged party members not to label him with any specific faction, expressing his readiness to work in alignment with President Thapa’s vision and spirit.

Broad Support

The push for Angdembe’s leadership was strongly advocated by influential leaders, including Vice President Bishwaprakash Sharma, who argued that a consensus candidate was essential to send a message of solidarity to the rank and file.

Sources within the party suggest that Angdembe enjoys support from both the Deuba and Shekhar Koirala camps. With this broad backing, he is expected to easily command a majority within the 38-member Congress Parliamentary Party, effectively bridging the gap between the party’s traditional power blocs.