Why are members of old parties deserting?

Surging frustration among members and cadres is threatening to wash away the foundations of established parties.

Long-unresolved internal disputes are one reason there has been a marked decline in membership of the Nepali Congress. Going by its latest online membership renewal drive, the oldest and most vocal champion of democratic values in the country could see its active membership reduced by nearly half from the 850,000 members recorded during the party’s 14th general convention in 2021. The party all but split after the Gagan Thapa faction convened a special convention at the end of 2025. Members of the rival camps led by Shekhar Koirala and Purna Bahadur Khadka now say they will not renew their membership, arguing that Thapa must first win their confidence. The ruling Thapa camp, however, has pushed ahead with the digital renewal drive as the old records appeared to be incomplete and inaccurate. Yet it would be a mistake to believe that camp rivalry is the sole or even the main reason for the growing disenchantment of old Congress stalwarts. The morale of Nepali Congress active members had been on a steady decline for over a decade, mostly during Sher Bahadur Deuba’s party presidency.