Why Nepali Congress is Trending in India: 2026 Convention, Leadership and Growth

15th General Convention of Nepali Congress

The Nepali Congress held its 15th General Convention in October 2026 at the Rastriya Sabhagriha hall in Kathmandu. The party’s election committee published the final voter list on 6 October 2026, confirming that [1] 7,114 representatives were eligible to vote. Member‑secretary Raju Katuwal stated that the window for filing claims and objections was open until 9:30 am the following day, with review scheduled from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Candidacy filing was set for 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm on the same day, and the party mobilised over 200 volunteers to support the convention process.

Leadership under Gagan Thapa

The party’s official website identifies Gagan Thapa as the current president, noting his election through a special convention and describing him as a youth leader [2]. The site highlights his role in steering the party toward internal reforms, outreach to younger members, and continued emphasis on social‑democratic values.

Membership growth

According to the Nepali Congress Wikipedia entry, the party reported 969,842 members as of October 2026, an increase of about 11.5 % from 870,106 members in December 2021 [3]. This rise reflects recent recruitment drives and the party’s emphasis on youth engagement, which has been a recurring theme in its communications.

Electoral performance in 2026

In the 2026 general election the Nepali Congress won 38 seats in the House of Representatives, making it the largest parliamentary opposition group. The same Wikipedia entry notes that the party remains a social‑democratic force in Nepal’s politics, with a history of leading coalition governments and producing several prime ministers.

Search interest spike in India

Google Trends India recorded approximately 5,000 searches for the term “nepali congress” in the past 24 hours, reflecting a 500 % growth spike [4]. The trend signal indicates heightened curiosity but does not verify the accuracy of any specific news claim.