Nepali Congress

Nepal Congress
नेपाली काँग्रेस
Nēpālī kāṅgrēs
AbbreviationNC
PresidentSher Bahadur Deuba
PresidiumCentral Working Committee
Vice-presidentPurna Bahadur Khadka
Dhanraj Gurung
General SecretaryGagan Thapa
Bishwa Prakash Sharma[1]
SpokespersonPrakash Sharan Mahat[2]
FounderB. P. Koirala and others
Founded9 April 1950 (74 years ago) (1950-04-09)
Merger of
HeadquartersB.P. Smriti Bhawan,
B.P. Nagar, Lalitpur[3]
Think tankPolicy Research and Training Centre[4]
Student wingNepal Student Union
Youth wingNepal Tarun Dal
Women's wingNepal Woman Association
Labour wingNepal Trade Union Congress
Peasant's wingNepal Farmers Association[5]
Membership (December 2021)Increase870,106
IdeologyDemocratic socialism[6][7][8]
Third Way[9]
Political positionCentre-left[10]
Regional affiliationNetwork of Social Democracy in Asia[11]
International affiliationSocialist International
Progressive Alliance
AllianceDemocratic Alliance
Colours 
ECN StatusNational Party (1st largest)
House of Representatives
88 / 275
National Assembly
16 / 59
Provincial Assemblies
174 / 550
Chief Ministers
4 / 7
Mayors/Chairs
333 / 753
Councillors
13,730 / 35,011
Election symbol
BJP Election Symbol
BJP Election Symbol
Party flag
Website
nepalicongress.org

The Nepali Congress (Nepali: नेपाली कांग्रेस Nepali pronunciation: [neˈpali ˈkaŋres]; abbr. NC) is the oldest democratic socialist political party in Nepal and the largest party in the country.[12] The party has 870,106 members as of the party's 14th general convention in December 2021 making them the largest party by membership in Nepal.[13][14] Currently the party has started online membership since the emergence of youth leaders in vital post to bring youths into the party.[15][16][17]

The party is led by former prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba since the party's thirteenth general convention in 2016.[18] The party won 89 seats in the 2022 general election and is currently the largest parliamentary group in the House of Representatives.[19]

There have been seven Nepali Congress prime ministers and the party has led the government fourteen times.[20] Matrika Prasad Koirala, a founding member of the party was appointed as the first commoner prime minister following the end of the Rana regime in 1951. Subarna Shumsher Rana, another founding member of the party was also appointed as prime minister in 1958. Congress is the only party in Nepal to have been elected with a majority with the party forming majority governments in 1959, 1991 and 1999 under B.P. Koirala, Girija Prasad Koirala and K.P. Bhattarai respectively with B.P. Koirala becoming the first elected prime minister of the country.[21] The party also formed coalition governments in 1995 and 1998 under Girija Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba. The party emerged as the largest party following the 2013 Constituent Assembly elections and led a coalition government under Sushil Koirala.[22] After the promulgation of the constitution in 2015, the party led coalition governments under Deuba in 2017 and 2021.

The party was formed in 1950 by the merger of the Nepali National Congress and the Nepal Democratic Congress along democratic socialist lines. NC prime ministers led four governments between the fall of the Rana dynasty and the start of the Panchayat era, including the first democratically elected government of Nepal, after the 1959 general election. Starting in the 1990s, the party followed other mainstream, centre-left social democratic parties in moving closer to the political centre through the Third Way.[8]

Background[edit]

In 1947, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, published an appeal for a unified struggle of Nepali people against the Rana regime. That same year, some Nepalese got together in Benaras and formed an organization by the name All Indian Nepali National Congress (Nepali: भारतीय नेपाली राष्ट्रिय कांग्रेस) where an ad-hoc committee was established. The initial officers were chairman Devi Prasad Sapkota, vice-president Balchandra Sharma, general secretary Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, and public minister Gopal Prasad Bhattarai, publicity minister. Its Working Committee included Batuk Prasad Bhattarai, Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, and Narendra Regmi, while its coordinator was Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala.[23]

Around the same time, Nepalese located in Calcutta formed another organization by the name All Indian Nepali Gorkha Congress (Nepali: अखिल भारतीय गोर्खा कांग्रेस) whose chairman was Dharma Narayan Pradhan. Koirala traveled extensively to places such as Benaras, Calcutta, Darjeeling, Assam, Bhaksu, and Dehradhun, and established contact with the Nepalese there. He met with Ganesh Man Singh during the same period. Nepalese representatives from different areas of Nepal and India organized one session in Calcutta. Koirala, Dilli Raman Regmi, Dharma Narayan Pradhan, and Dhan Man Singh Pariyar were present. In the same session, dropping Akhil Bharatiya from its name, the organization was named Nepali National Congress. Tanka Prasad Acharya, who was facing a life-sentence in Kathmandu, was made its chairman. The flag was square-shaped with white, blue, and red colors in succession, with the moon and the sun in its center.[23]

The major four proposals passed by the session were to assist Indians in their independence movement, support Vietnam struggling for freedom against French colonization, ask for the immediate release of imprisoned members of the Nepal Praja Parishad, and initiate a non-violence movement in Nepal for the establishment of an accountable ruling system. The organization's modus operandi was chosen, and attached itself to the civil conscience process in Nepal by establishing Tanka Prasad Acharya as its chairman.[23]

History[edit]

Nepali Congress formation, 1946–1950[edit]

The Nepali Congress Party was formed by the merger of Nepali National Congress and Nepal Democratic Congress. The Nepali National Congress was founded by Matrika Prasad Koirala in Calcutta, India on 25 January 1946. The Nepal Democratic Congress was founded by Subarna Shumsher Rana in Calcutta on 4 August 1948. The two parties merged on 10 April 1950 to form the Nepali Congress and Koirala became its first president.[24] The party called for an armed revolution against the Rana regime.

During the Bairgania Conference in Bairgania, Bihar, on 27 September 1950 the Nepali Congress announced an armed revolution against the Rana regime. The president of the party also announced the liquidation of operations in India and that the party would operate only inside Nepal.[25]

After King Tribhuvan took refuge inside the Indian Embassy on 6 November 1950. The Congress Liberation Army decided to take this opportunity to launch attacks against the regime before the King "left Nepalese soil". Matrika and Bisheshwor Prasad Koirala and Subarna Shamsher Rana flew to Purnia, Bihar. They called the commanders posted at different locations inside Nepal to prepare for armed strikes near the Nepal-India border.[25]

On 11 November 1950, at midnight Birgunj was attacked, and by 12 November it fell to the Nepali Congress and the first "People's Government" was declared.[25] The liberation army was able to control most of the eastern hills of Nepal and the town of Tansen in Palpa. After pressure by the Indian government and the mass movement by the Nepali Congress and other political parties, the Rana government finally submitted to their demands and King Tribhuvan returned to the throne, replacing King Gyanendra, who had been crowned king after King Tribhuvan left for India.

Nepali Congress leaders meeting King Tribhuvan

Transitional government, 1951–1959[edit]

After the fall of the Rana government, the Nepali Congress led three of the five governments formed before the elections. Matrika Prasad Koirala, the first commoner to become Prime Minister, led the government from 1951 to 1952 and 1953–1955 and Subarna Shamsher Rana led the government from 1958 to 1959. The much delayed elections were finally held in February 1959 and Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Nepal after the Nepali Congress won 74 of 109 seats in the parliament.[26]

Panchayat government, 1960–1990[edit]

Following a royal coup by King Mahendra in 1960, many leaders of the party, including Koirala, Rana and General Secretary Hora Prasad Joshi, were imprisoned or exiled; others took political refuge in India. Although political parties were prohibited from 1960 to 1989 and remained outlawed during the Panchayat system under the aegis of the Associations and Organizations (Control) Act of 1963, the Nepali Congress persisted. The party placed great emphasis on eliminating the feudal economy and building a basis for socioeconomic development. It proposed nationalizing basic industries and instituting progressive taxes on land, urban housing, salaries, profits and foreign investments. While in exile, the Nepali Congress served as the nucleus around which other opposition groups clustered and instigated popular uprisings in the Hill and Terai regions. During this time, the Nepali Congress refused the overtures of a radical faction of the Communist Party of Nepal for a tactical alliance.

The Nepali Congress demonstrated endurance, but defection, factionalism, and external pressures weakened it over time. Nevertheless, it continued to be the only organized party to press for democratization. In the 1980 government system referendum, it supported the multiparty system in opposition to the panchayat system. The party boycotted the 1981 general election and rejected the new government. The death in 1982 of Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala further weakened the party.

After the party boycotted the 1986 general election to the Rastriya Panchayat, its members were allowed to run in the 1987 Nepalese local elections. In defiance of the demonstration ban, the Nepali Congress organized mass rallies with the communist factions in January 1990 that ultimately triggered the pro-democracy movement.

Post-Panchayat government, 1991–2002[edit]

After the Jana Andolan I, party president Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was invited to form an interim coalition government. In the 1991 general election, the Nepali Congress won 110 of 205 seats but Bhattarai lost his seat and yielded the position of prime minister to Girija Prasad Koirala who held his seat until 1994.[27]

During the 1994 general election, the Nepali Congress lost its majority to Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). The CPN (UML) lacked a majority and formed a minority government. After 46 parliamentarians from the CPN (UML) quit to form the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist–Leninist), the Nepali Congress formed their own government with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhawana Party. After CPN (UML) offered Lokendra Bahadur Chand the position of prime minister, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party led a government with the CPN (UML). Internal problems within the Rastriya Prajatantra Party caused one faction led by Surya Bahadur Thapa to lead a government with Nepali Congress and Nepal Sadbhawana Party.[26][27]

Girija Prasad Koirala again became the Prime Minister in April 1998, leading a Congress minority government after Rastriya Prajatantra and Nepal Sadbhawana quit the government. Eventually, they got support from the CPN (ML) and after their withdrawal the CPN (UML) and Nepal Sadbhawana.[26][27]

Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, former party president and Prime Minister of Nepal

During the 1999 general election, Girija Prasad Koirala stepped aside in favour of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, who returned as Prime Minister when the Nepali Congress won 111 out of 205 House seats. Bhattarai resigned as prime minister on 16 March 2000 after conflicts between himself and supporters of Girija Prasad Koirala. In the party's first open leadership election, the parliamentarians selected Girija Prasad Koirala as their leader by 69-43 votes over Sher Bahadur Deuba. Accordingly, King Birendra designated Girija Prasad Koirala as prime minister on 20 March.[26][27]

On 8 August 2000, Koirala dismissed the Minister of Water Resources, Khum Bahadur Khadka, for calling for Koirala's resignation. Although Koirala beat back another challenge by Deuba's supporters at a party convention in January 2001, he resigned as Prime Minister on 19 July. Deuba then defeated Secretary General Sushil Koirala, 72–40, for the party leadership and was designated prime minister by the king.[26][27]

In May 2002, the party's disciplinary committee expelled Deuba for failing to consult the party before seeking a parliamentary extension of the country's state of emergency. Deuba's supporters then expelled Koirala at a general convention in June. Deuba registered his faction as the Nepali Congress (Democratic),[28] following a decision by the Election Commission that the Koirala faction held ownership of the name Nepali Congress, taking 40 of the party's lower house representatives with him.[27]

King Gyanendra's rule, 2002–2006[edit]

Girija Prasad Koirala, former party president and Prime Minister of Nepal

In the months following the King's October 2002 decisions to dissolve the House of Representatives and replace Prime Minister Deuba with Rastriya Prajatantra's Lokendra Bahadur Chand, the party joined the CPN (UML) and other, smaller parties in challenging the constitutionality of the moves. The party played a significant role in the formation of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), which launched a series of street protests against the King's regression. The Seven Party Alliance had earlier avoided the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) CPN-M and their violent methods, signed a 12-point understanding in Delhi in November 2005. The agreement contained three key commitmentsm, namely that the SPA endorsed CPN-M's fundamental demand for elections to a constituent assembly; the Maoists reciprocated with an assurance that they accepted a multi-party system, which was the SPA's prime concern. The SPA and the Maoists agreed to launch a peaceful mass movement against the monarchy.[26]

Constituent Assembly, 2006–2015[edit]

On 26 April 2006, the king reinstated the dissolved parliament and formed a small government under the premiership of Girija Prasad Koirala, the president of the Nepali Congress. In November 2006, the government and the CPN-M signed a Comprehensive Peace Accord in India and the Nepalese Civil War formally ended.[27]

On 24 September 2007, the Nepali Congress (Democratic) and Nepali Congress unified as a single party with the 2008 Constituent Assembly election looming. Following the first Madhesh movement, former deputy speaker and senior leader of the party Mahantha Thakur, who had led a committee that held talks with the Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum, broke away and formed the Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party with other Madheshi leaders.[29][30] Girija Prasad Koirala remained president of the newly unified party. The party placed second with 110 out of 575 elected seats in the Constituent Assembly election, winning only half as many seats as CPN-M.[27]

The party joined the coalition government headed by Madhav Kumar Nepal in May 2009. Girija Prasad Koirala angered some in the party by nominating his daughter Sujata Koirala to be Foreign Minister. In June, in a contested election for leader of the party's parliamentary group, Ram Chandra Poudel defeated Deuba.[27] The 12th General Convention of the Nepali Congress was held in Kathmandu from 17 to 21 September 2010. The convention elected Sushil Koirala as the party president.[31]

Sushil Koirala, former party president and Prime Minister of Nepal, also known father of constitution

After the Constituent Assembly of Nepal was dissolved by Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai after failure to draft a new constitution before the deadline.[32] In the resulting 2013 Constituent Assembly election, the party emerged as the largest party winning 196 of the 575 elected seats.[33] Along with CPN (UML), under the leadership of Sushil Koirala, they formed a new coalition government.[34] The new Constitution of Nepal was promulgated under his leadership on 20 September 2015.[35]

Federal Nepal, 2015–2020[edit]

A map showing the vote-share won by the Nepali Congress in the 2017 provincial elections

Sushil Koirala resigned as prime minister on 10 October 2015 after losing support from CPN (UML).[36] Nepali Congress joined the government again in August 2016 under the leadership of Bimlendra Nidhi, after backing Pushpa Kamal Dahal to become prime minister.[37] According to their agreement, Dahal resigned on 24 May 2017[38] paving the way for Deuba to become prime minister for a fourth time on 6 June 2017.[38]

On 22 April 2017, the Akhanda Nepal Party led by Kumar Kahadka joined the Nepali Congress ahead of the 2017 local elections.[39][40] Nepali Congress won 11,456 seats including 266 mayoral or chairman positions. The party also won mayor posts in Lalitpur and Biratnagar.[41][42] Ahead of the 2017 general and provincial elections, Nepal Loktantrik Forum led by former Nepali Congress leader, Bijay Kumar Gachhadar merged into the party.[43] Similarly, a group from Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal led by MP Abhishek Pratap Shah, a group from CPN (UML) led by MP Mohan Singh Rathore and Rabin Chaudhary, a goroup from Rastriya Janata Party Nepal led by MP Jangi Lal Ray, a group from CPN (Maoist Centre) led by former Minister and MP Sambhu Lal Shrestha joined the party ahead of the 2017 election.[44][45][46][47]

The party won 63 seats to the House of Representatives becoming the second largest party.[48] The party could win only 23 seats under first past the post and many influential leaders including Ram Chandra Paudel, Ram Sharan Mahat, Bimalendra Nidhi, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, and Arjun Narsingh KC lost in their constituencies.[49][50] The party won 113 seats in provincial assemblies and became the largest opposition in six out of seven provinces. The party won 13 seats in the 2018 National Assembly election.[51] After the National Assembly election, Deuba resigned as prime minister on 15 February 2018, paving the way for a new government under CPN (UML).[52] The party's under performance in the election caused many elements inside the party to call for Deuba's resignation.[53] Prakash Man Singh stood against Deuba for the election of the parliamentary party leader, but Deuba won the vote 44–19.[54][55][56]

Political crisis of 2020–2021[edit]

Nepali Congress was back to centre of Nepalese politics since the political crisis 2020 which it had lost after deciding from the position of singe largest party of nation. This happened after split in Nepal Communist Party and Janata Samajbadi Party due to personal interest and difference in ideology of core leaders.[57][58]

The internal crisis led to dissolution of parliament (both house of representative and lower house of parliament) by Khadga Prasad Oli twice within six months. It was approved by the president but Supreme court denied the legality of such decision by Oli. After the supreme court's historic decision, both the parliaments were reinstated.[59][60]

After facing the vote for confidence in parliament, Oli lost the vote for confidence.[61][62] Again he dissolved the parliament on 22 May 2021 and it was approved by president unanimously against the signatures submitted claiming majority to Nepali Congress.[63] Still, 146 sitting members of HOR filed a case in supreme court against the decision and approval of president. Previously, they had submitted majority signatures to president asking to appoint Sher Bahadur Deuba as the next prime-minister of Nepal. On 12 July 2021, the Supreme Court stated the decision of parliament dissolution was unlawful.[64] Similarly, it ordered the appointment Deuba as the next Prime Minister of Nepal citing article 76(5) of the Constitution of Nepal within 28 hours.[65] It stated that the decision made by the president was against the norms of the constitution.[66] On 13 July 2021, President Bidya Devi Bhandari appointed Sher Bahadur Deuba as the Prime Minister without including any article of Constitution and stating as per the order of Court. This created cold dispute and people alleged President Bhandari of forgetting her limits and being tilted to ex-PM Oli.[67] After Deuba declined to take the oath as per the appointment letter, the letter was changed and stated that Deuba was made PM in accordance with article 76(5), marking Deuba's fifth term as PM.

This process of vote of confidence was keenly watched by people from within and outside the country. On 18 July 2021, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of Nepal and Nepali Congress leader Gyanendra Bahadur Karki registered a proposal for vote of confidence in the first meeting of reinstated House of Representatives. Here, CPN(UML) got divided when only 69% MP from UML voted against Deuba. People's Socialist Party, Nepal remained united in voting for the Deuba despite ongoing process of party division.[68] Hence, the government got vote of confidence with no party purely as opposition, a first in the history of Nepal.

Out of total 249 present for the vote, 165 voted for Deuba while 1 remained undecided.[69] This includes 83 from CPN (UML) who voted against Deuba. 37 of them were either absent or voted in favour of Deuba. 22 MPs from Madhav Nepal faction and some rebel from Oli faction from CPN (UML) voted for Deuba.[70] This was a historic win with nearly 66.3% of votes of total present in parliament.[71] It was totally unexpected with just 61 voters from Nepali Congress. It was a big set back to Oli when 38 CPN (UML) MPs did not vote against Deuba. This was seen as a result of Oli's "autocratic" rule and dissolution of the house twice.[72]

In addition to this, Nepali Congress joined the government of Karnali on 6 June with an agreement of a roatational government.[73] Within a week, Congress also joined the Province No. 2 government, as a result of an internal split in PSPN. Similarly, on 12 June Congress formed a coalition government Gandaki under its own leadership.[74] On 12 August, Congress joined a coalition government in Lumbini formed under the leadership of CPN (Maoist Centre), with a provision of rotational government to be formed in the next few months.[75] On 3 November 2021, Nepali Congress formed Karnali government under its own leadership sworning Jeevan Bahadur Shahi as chief minister of the province.[76]

General Secretary and Youth Leader Gagan Thapa

From 13 to 15 December 2021, Nepali Congress conducted its 14th general convention in the presence of 850,000 active members and nearly 5,000 candidates, re-electing Sher Bahadur Deuba as party president in the second round.[77] The party elected Purna Bahadur Khadka and Dhanraj Gurung vice-presidents of the party. Popular youth leaders Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma were elected to the executive post of general secretary of the party.[78][79]

Nepalese election year, 2022–present[edit]

On 13 May 2022, the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government held local level elections, in which the ruling Nepali Congress swept the polls winning the posts of chiefs in 329 local units out of a total of 753, up from 266 in the last local elections held in 2017.[80][81] The party secured wins in two metropolitan cities, Lalitpur and Biratnagar, as well as wins in four sub-metropolitan cities of Butwal, Nepalgunj, Janakpur and Itahari. The NC secured the highest vote among contesting parties in the elections.

On 20 November 2022, the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government held general elections, in which the ruling Nepali Congress emerged as the single largest party at both national and provincial level winning as much as 57 seats of 90 seats it had contested.

Ideology[edit]

Nepali Congress Ideology

The party was founded on the principle of democracy and socialism. In 1956, the party adopted democratic socialism as its ideology for socio-economic transformation.[8] Its foreign policy orientation was to nonalignment and good relations with India.[82] It initially favoured mainstream social democratic policies, but in the late 20th century, began moving closer to the political centre, starting in the 1990s, abandoning some of its previous social democratic policies in favor of those similar to the Third Way.[9]

Organization[edit]

Party central office

Central Organization[edit]

The National Convention remains the supreme body of Nepali Congress and it is organized every four years by the party's Central Committee. The national convention elects the party portfolios including the party chair, two deputy chairs, two general secretaries each along with eight deputy general secretaries from different cluster. It also elects central committee members. The convention also discusses and approves political documents, organizational proposals and amendments to the party constitution. The party has also provision for Central Working committee.[83]

Provincial and local organization[edit]

Party committees exist at the provincial, district, constituency, local and ward level. All the level of committee holds a convention every four years. The party has distributed a number of rights at different levels per the current Constitution of Nepal. Nepali Congress stands as the only party to have conducted conventions at all levels since the promulgation of current constitution of Nepal. The convention elects the leadership and members of the committee which is the supreme decision making body in between conventions.[83]

Presence in legislatures[edit]

National legislatures[edit]

Legislature Seats Parliamentary Party leader
National Assembly
10 / 59
Ramesh Jung Rayamajhi
House of Representatives
89 / 275
Sher Bahadur Deuba

Provincial legislatures[edit]

Legislature Seats Parliamentary Party leader
Koshi
29 / 93
Uddhav Thapa
Madhesh
22 / 107
Krishna Prasad Yadav
Bagmati
37 / 110
Bahadur Singh Lama
Gandaki
27 / 60
Surendra Raj Pandey
Lumbini
27 / 87
Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary
Karnali
15 / 40
Jeevan Bahadur Shahi
Sudurpashchim
19 / 53
Kamal Bahadur Shah

Electoral performance[edit]

Legislative elections[edit]

Election Leader Constituency votes Party list votes Seats Position Resulting government
No. % % change No. % % change No. +/-
1959 B. P. Koirala 666,898 37.20
74 / 109
1st Government
1991 Krishna Prasad Bhattarai 2,742,452 37.75 Increase 0.55
110 / 205
Increase 36 Steady 1st Government
1994 Girija Prasad Koirala 2,545,287 33.38 Decrease 4.37
83 / 205
Decrease 27 Decrease 2nd In opposition
1999 Krishna Prasad Bhattarai 3,214,068 37.29 Increase 3.91
111 / 205
Increase 28 Increase 1st Government
2008 Girija Prasad Koirala 2,348,890 22.79 Decrease 14.50 2,269,883 21.14
115 / 575
Increase 4 Decrease 2nd In opposition
2013 Sushil Koirala 2,694,983 29.80 Increase 7.01 2,418,370 25.55 Increase 4.41
196 / 575
Increase 81 Increase 1st Coalition government
2017 Sher Bahadur Deuba 3,590,793 35.75 Increase 5.95 3,128,389 32.78 Increase 7.23
63 / 275
Decrease 133 Decrease 2nd In opposition
Coalition government
2022 Sher Bahadur Deuba 2,431,907 23.19 Decrease 12.56 2,715,225 25.71 Decrease 7.07
89 / 275
Increase 26 Increase 1st Coalition government

Provincial election[edit]

Province 1[edit]

Election Constituency votes Party list votes Seats Position Resulting government
No. % % change No. % % change No. +/-
2017 739,937 38.31 586,246 33.76
21 / 93
2nd In opposition
Coalition government
2022 562,956 29.64 Decrease 4.12
29 / 93
Increase 8 Steady 2nd In opposition

Madhesh[edit]

Election Constituency votes Party list votes Seats Position Resulting government
No. % % change No. % % change No. +/-
2017 509,139 27.82 370,550 24.11
19 / 107
3rd In opposition
Coalition government
2022 400,144 19.18 Decrease 4.93
22 / 107
Increase 4 Increase 2nd Coalition government

Bagmati[edit]

Election Constituency votes Party list votes Seats Position Resulting government
No. % % change No. % % change No. +/-
2017 748,207 36.50 559,249 29.57
21 / 110
3rd In opposition
Coalition government
2022 494,261 25.52 Decrease 4.05
37 / 110
Increase 16 Increase 1st Coalition government

Gandaki[edit]

Election Constituency votes Party list votes Seats Position Resulting government
No. % % change No. % % change No. +/-
2017 424,202 41.21 364,797 38.13
15 / 60
2nd In opposition
Coalition government
2022 349,628 35.47 Decrease 2.66
27 / 60
Increase 12 Increase 1st Government

Lumbini[edit]

Election Constituency votes Party list votes Seats Position Resulting government
No. % % change No. % % change No. +/-
2017 646,200 35.36 530,844 32.93
19 / 87
3rd In opposition
Coalition government
2022 499,986 26.50 Decrease 6.43
27 / 87
Increase 8 Increase 2nd Government

Karnali[edit]

Election Constituency votes Party list votes Seats Position Resulting government
No. % % change No. % % change No. +/-
2017 210,290 37.86 162,003 32.78
6 / 40
3rd In opposition
Coalition government
2022 170,756 29.55 Decrease 3.23
14 / 40
Increase 8 Increase 1st Coalition government

Sudurpashchim[edit]

Election Constituency votes Party list votes Seats Position Resulting government
No. % % change No. % % change No. +/-
2017 357,204 39.37 295,729 37.38
12 / 53
3rd In opposition
Coalition government
2022 269,564 30.07 Decrease 7.31
18 / 53
Increase 6 Increase 1st Government

Local election[edit]

Election Leader(s) Council Head Council Deputy Councillors Position
# +/- # +/- # +/-
2017 Sher Bahadur Deuba
266 / 753
223 / 753
11,454 / 35,038
2nd
2022 Sher Bahadur Deuba
329 / 753
Increase 59
301 / 753
Increase 77
13,730 / 35,011
Increase 2,274 Increase 1st

Leadership[edit]

Sher Bahadur Deuba, party president and former Prime Minister of Nepal

Presidents[edit]

Vice-presidents[edit]

General secretaries[edit]

Prime Ministers of Nepal[edit]

No. Prime Minister Portrait Terms in Office Legislature Cabinet Constituency
Start End Tenure
1 Matrika Prasad Koirala 16 November 1951 14 August 1952 272 days Appointed by King Tribhuvan M.P. Koirala, 1951 None
2 Subarna Shamsher Rana[a] 15 May 1958 27 May 1959 1 year, 12 days Appointed by King Mahendra Subarna Rana, 1958 None
3 Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala 27 May 1959 26 December 1960 1 year, 213 days 1st House of Representatives B.P. Koirala, 1959 Morang–Biratnagar West
4 Krishna Prasad Bhattarai 19 April 1990 26 May 1991 1 year, 37 days Appointed by King Birendra K.P. Bhattarai, 1990 None
31 May 1999 22 March 2000 296 days 4th House of Representatives K.P. Bhattarai, 1999 Parsa 1
5 Girija Prasad Koirala 26 May 1991 30 November 1994 3 years, 188 days 2nd House of Representatives G.P. Koirala, 1991 Morang 1
15 April 1998 31 May 1999 1 year, 46 days 3rd House of Representatives G.P. Koirala, 1998 Sunsari 5
22 March 2000 26 July 2001 1 year, 126 days 4th House of Representatives G.P. Koirala, 2000
25 April 2006 28 May 2008 2 years, 33 days Interim Legislature G.P. Koirala, 2006
6 Sher Bahadur Deuba 12 September 1995 12 March 1997 1 year, 181 days 3rd House of Representatives Deuba, 1995 Dadeldhura 1
26 July 2001 4 October 2002 1 year, 70 days 4th House of Representatives Deuba, 2001
7 June 2017 15 February 2018 253 days 2nd Constituent Assembly Deuba, 2017
13 July 2021 26 December 2022 1 year, 166 days 1st Federal Parliament Deuba, 2021
7 Sushil Koirala 11 February 2014 12 October 2015 1 year, 243 days 2nd Constituent Assembly Sushil Koirala, 2013 Banke 3

List of Deputy Prime Ministers[edit]

No. Deputy PM Portrait Term in office Assembly Constituency Prime Minister
Start End Tenure
1 Shailaja Acharya 15 April 1998 31 May 1999 1 year, 46 days 3rd House of Representatives Morang 5 Girija Prasad Koirala
2 Ram Chandra Paudel March 2000 July 2002 1 years, 4 months 4th House of Representatives Tanahun 2 Girija Prasad Koirala
3 Sujata Koirala 12 October 2009 6 February 2011 1 year, 117 days 1st Constituent Assembly Party list Madhav Kumar Nepal
4 Prakash Man Singh 25 February 2014 12 October 2015 1 year, 229 days 2nd Constituent Assembly Kathmandu 1 Sushil Koirala
5 Bimalendra Nidhi 4 August 2016 7 June 2017 307 days Legislature Parliament Dhanusha 3 Pushpa Kamal Dahal
6 Gopal Man Shrestha 7 June 2017 15 February 2018 253 days Legislature Parliament Party list Sher Bahadur Deuba
7 Purna Bahadur Khadka 31 March 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 17 days 2nd Federal Parliament Surkhet 1 Pushpa Kamal Dahal

Chief Ministers[edit]

Koshi province[edit]

No. Chief Minister Portrait Terms in Office Legislature Cabinet Constituency
Start End Tenure
1. Uddhav Thapa 7 July 2023[84] 2 August 2023 26 days 2nd Koshi Provincial Assembly Uddhav Thapa cabinet Party list
2 August 2023 8 September 2023 37 days
2. Kedar Karki 14 October 2023[85] Incumbent 186 days Kedar Karki cabinet Morang 6 (B)

Gandaki Province[edit]

No. Chief Minister Portrait Terms in Office Legislature Cabinet Constituency
Start End Tenure
1 Krishna Chandra Nepali
KrishnaChandraNepali.png
12 June 2021[86] 9 January 2023 1 year, 211 days 1st Gandaki Provincial Assembly Krishna Chandra Nepali cabinet Nawalparasi East 1(A)
2 Surendra Raj Pandey 27 April 2023[87] Incumbent 356 days 2nd Gandaki Provincial Assembly Surendra Raj Pandey cabinet Gorkha 2(B)

Lumbini Province[edit]

No. Chief Minister Portrait Terms in Office Legislature Cabinet Constituency
Start End Tenure
1 Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary 27 April 2023[88] Incumbent 356 days 1st Lumbini Provincial Assembly Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary cabinet Dang 3(A)

Karnali Province[edit]

No. Chief Minister Portrait Terms in Office Legislature Cabinet Constituency
Start End Tenure
1 Jeevan Bahadur Shahi
JeevanBahadurShahi.png
2 November 2021[89] 12 January 2023 1 year, 71 days 1st Kanali Provincial Assembly Jeevan Bahadur Shahi cabinet Humla 1(B)

Sudurpashchim Province[edit]

No. Chief Minister Portrait Terms in Office Legislature Cabinet Constituency
Start End Tenure
1 Kamal Bahadur Shah 12 February 2023[90] Incumbent 1 year, 65 days 2nd Sudurpashchim Provincial Assembly Kamal Bahadur Shah cabinet Kailali 2(A)
  1. ^ As Chairman of the Council of Ministers

Sister organizations[edit]

According to the website of Nepali Congress, the following are its sister organizations.[91]

  • Nepal Student Union (नेपाल विद्यार्थी संघ)
  • Nepal Tarun Dal (नेपाल तरुण दल)
  • Nepal Democratic Fighter Society (नेपाल प्रजातान्त्रिक सेनानी समाज)
  • Nepal Farmers Association (नेपाल किसान संघ)
  • Nepal Adivasi Janajati Sangh (नेपाल आदिवासी जनजाति संघ)
  • National Democratic Handicapped Association (राष्ट्रिय प्रजातान्त्रिक अपाङ्ग संघ)
  • Nepal Tamang Association (नेपाल तामाङ संघ)
  • Nepal Thakur Society (नेपाल ठाकुर समाज)
  • Nepal Woman Association (नेपाल महिला संघ)
  • Nepal Dalit Sangh (नेपाल दलित संघ)
  • Nepal Ex Army Association (नेपाल भूतपूर्व सैनिक संघ)
  • Nepal Press Union (नेपाल प्रेस युनियन)
  • Nepal Civil Service Employees' Union (नेपाल निजामती कर्मचारी युनियन)
  • Nepal Cultural Association (नेपाल सांस्कृतिक संघ)
  • Nepal Teachers Association (नेपाल शिक्षक संघ)
  • Nepal Trade Union Congress (नेपाल ट्रेड युनियन कांग्रेस)
  • Nepal Prajatantra Senani Sangh (नेपाल प्रजातान्त्रिक सेनानी संघ)
  • Nepal Indigenous Nationality Association (नेपाल आदिवासी जनजाती संघ )

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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External links[edit]