Kathmandu: In a historic move, the Nepali Congress has decided to introduce a primary election system for selecting party candidates, a first in the party’s long history.
The decision is outlined in a political proposal presented at the party’s ongoing Second Special Convention at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu. Tabled by General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa, the proposal seeks to formalize internal competition and promote a more democratic, transparent, and inclusive candidate selection process.
Under the proposed system, candidates for various tiers of government will be chosen through internal primaries conducted among members of the concerned party units. The top three vote-getters—mandatorily including at least one woman—will be shortlisted, from whom the final candidate will be nominated.
The proposal states that the process will be supported by a digital candidate evaluation and recommendation mechanism designed to ensure equal opportunity. Candidates will be assessed on criteria such as merit, competence, integrity, and organizational contribution.
Party leaders believe the introduction of primaries will strengthen internal democracy, minimize conflicts over ticket distribution, and rebuild public confidence in the party. The move follows increasing demands for reform within the Nepali Congress, as leaders acknowledge that past practices of centralized and opaque candidate selection have contributed to internal rifts and weakened electoral performance.
Officials also emphasize that the digital-based primary system will enhance transparency and accountability by prioritizing fair and objective evaluation over factional influence or leadership discretion.
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