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Sarlahi, Jan 27: Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa said his visit to Madhesh is meant to closely observe and understand the province beyond reports and second-hand accounts. Addressing voters in Sarlahi Constituency No 4 on Monday, Thapa said Madhesh is a place he has long heard about in politics, but one that must be understood through direct contact with people.

Thapa, who was recently elected party president after a long internal contest, said his rise within the Congress came from years of grassroots work, parliamentary debates, and a push for internal reform. From student politics to becoming a leading voice for generational change inside the party, Thapa built his profile by challenging senior leadership on governance, service delivery, and accountability. His elevation to the party’s top post marked a shift in the Congress toward younger leadership at a time when public trust in traditional parties has weakened.

Speaking in Sarlahi, Thapa said he was deeply moved by the reception he received upon landing at Simara Airport, where supporters from different parts of Madhesh welcomed him warmly. He said local leaders briefed him on Madhesh’s long-standing contributions to the Nepali Congress and to democratic movements in the country.

Thapa said he plans to learn more about the language, customs, culture, and social life of Madhesh, stressing that political understanding must come with cultural respect. He shared that some colleagues had advised him to begin his speech in the local language, but he declined. He said he did not come to perform or impress, and that he would speak in the local tongue only after learning it properly.

The Congress president also recalled that he had raised Madhesh-related concerns several times in Parliament in the past. This time, he said, his focus would be sharper and more sustained. He pledged to listen closely to the concerns of Madheshi communities and reflect them in party policy and national debate.

Thapa said his visit comes with a clear belief that no one can fully understand Nepal without understanding Madhesh. He added that dedicating time and attention to the province is not a political gesture, but a national responsibility that leaders must take seriously.    People’s News Monitoring Service