The spectre of political corporatism

As long as the state remains a Khas-Arya monopoly, changing leaders is just rearranging the boardroom.

With a reported participation of nearly 60 percent of delegates, the special general convention of the Nepali Congress opened at Bhrikuti Mandap in Kathmandu on January 11, 2026. Convened at the initiative of general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, the gathering has generated considerable media attention and public anticipation. Whether the exercise proves to be merely a display of organisational strength or succeeds in initiating substantive reform—through statutory amendments, a recalibrated political outlook and a change of leadership —remains uncertain.