KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 6
As the Nepali Congress (NC) prepares to elect its leadership on October 7 and 8, much of the public conversation around its 15th General Convention has been about a social media post by Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah rather than the party’s own business.
The convention comes amid an internal dispute. The Gagan Thapa-led faction is holding its convention, while the Sher Bahadur Deuba- faction has announced a separate one. The Supreme Court has also reopened the dispute over the Thapa-led leadership. The election schedule remains subject to change over nominations and ongoing negotiations.
Social media has been humming since Sunday evening over PM Shah’s brief banter in response to NC President Thapa’s remarks at about the Khulamanch, which literally translates to ‘open space.’
HOW IT STARTED
Speaking during the inaugural session on Sunday at the Khulamanch, Thapa took a jibe at PM Shah. “What is needed in the Parliament is an open forum, but unfortunately, the Parliament is currently not open; it is closed. Until the prime minister appears in the Parliament respectfully, it will not be considered open but rather closed,” he said, emphasising the need to make the Parliament a venue for vibrant and open debates.
Less than three hours later, PM Shah, known for his style since his mayoral tenure, took to Meta-owned social media platforms and wrote: “It is a good thing that the Khulamanch was improved; a new party was able to hold an event there and criticise [me].”
NEW TREND ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The post sparked a new trend on social media, with users claiming and reclaiming credit for who did what in Nepal.
NC young leader Sachin Timillsena, who contested the Kathmandu-4 constituency but lost to Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Pukar Bam, said PM Shah is able to speak freely because the Congress established democracy in Nepal. “Thank goodness the Congress established democracy in this country. Even the prime minister is able to make low-level remarks after 9 o’clock,” his post reads.
Gen Z leader Rakshya Bam soon joined in, reminding PM Shah how thankful he should be for the sacrifice made by Gen Z, which put him in the PM’s chair. “It is thanks to Gen Z, who staged protests, shed blood, and suffered injuries or martyrdom, that individuals lacking even basic political decorum have been able to become Prime Minister, Ministers and Lawmakers,” her post reads.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker Gyanendra Bahadur Shahi invoked Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified Nepal. “Thanks to His Majesty the King, Prithvi Narayan Shah, who created Nepal, today we are able to say that some are prime ministers and some are ministers; we are able to say with pride, ‘I am Nepali,’ no matter where we go in the world,” he wrote.
Some have also questioned how the PM could call the Thapa-led party ‘new’ in a satirical way as Congress grapples with rift within.
NC Vice-President Bishwa Prakash Sharma responded to the PM’s jibe, saying the freedom to speak and criticise is a democratic right secured through Nepal’s political struggles. Sharma said he was citing Timilsena’s response to the post, adding that he respects Shah’s right to express his views and that democracy should be reflected in practice.
Others have expressed concern that real issues are being sidelined. Political commentator Bikash Gupta said people in the position of prime minister should act more responsibly and sensibly, and should not make everything about themselves and divert the agenda from pressing issues.
Banter in politics is normal, he said. “Political leaders will make remarks, take jabs, and engage in political exchanges. But at the same time, we need to be conscious of where we are heading to as a nation,” he told THT.
“The prime minister bantering over the Nepali Congress General Convention is one thing. The real problem begins when that banter receives more attention than the convention itself,” Gupta said. “I would urge this government, and the prime minister, in particular, to come out of the image and aura of an influencer and start acting with the responsibility expected of a prime minister.”