Gagan Thapa

Gagan Thapa (Nepali: गगन थापा) is the current Minister for Health (Nepali: स्वास्थ्य मन्त्री) of Nepal. He is a current member of turned Legislative Parliament. He was a member of Executive Committee of the Nepali Congress Party. He has been defeated in the Position of Secretary General by Shashank Koirala, son of BP Koirala in the 13 th General Convention of Nepali Congress.

He is one of the most popular political leaders in Nepal and has a large following in various social networking sites. He emerged as potential future leader of the country during the agitation against King Gyanendra's direct rule during the months leading to the 2006 democracy movement in Nepal. Since then, he has been seen as a fresh and young face in contrast to the usual political landscape dominated by septuagenarian and octogenarian politicians who have been in the political center-stage for decades. The young generation often portrays him to be their leader as a future Prime Minister of Nepal.^[1] He was also a member of 1st Nepalese Constituent Assembly (2008–12). Widely recognized for his oratory, many Nepali people believe that he can lead the nation in an executive role if presented with an opportunity.

Involvement

In 2008 he became a member of the first constitutional assembly, elected under Party-list proportional representation from Nepali Congress.^[2] He was in the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principle of the Constituent Assembly and the Natural Resources and Means committee of the Legislative Parliament. Prior to the election, he had held important positions within his party as the general secretary of the NC student wing, Nepal Student Union (2002–04), its vice president (2000–02) and central committee member (1998-2000). He was also the president of the Free Student Union of Tri Chandra College, Kathmandu (1998-00). He completed his master's degree in political science from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. After the 2006 democracy movement he rose as one of the most prominent youth leaders in Nepal. He is a highly praised political leader among Nepalese youths.

In 2013, he ran as Nepali Congress candidate from Kathmandu constituency-4 in the second Constitutional Assembly election held on 19 November 2013, which he won with a huge margin against his opponents. With 22,336 votes, he emerged victorious over his closest contender Nirmal Kuikel of CPN (UML) who managed to collect only 9,028 votes. The third contender from the same constituency with merely 6,462 votes was Nanda Kishor Pun (Pashang) of the UCPN Maoists, who was also the commander in chief of the party's armed-wing People's Liberation Army, Nepal during the insurgency.^[3]

On 26 th August 2016, Thapa took oath of office from the President Bidhya Devi Bhandari as the Minister for Health from Nepali Congress in a coalition government between the said party and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal.^[4]

He is also an entrepreneur^[5] engaged in agribusiness in Nepal and a philanthropist.^[6]

Significant jobs

He refused to take the salary on extension of duration of constituent assembly beyond the deadline in 2009 and encouraged other to do so. He was the only MP who proposed parties disengage from Nepal bandas. It was him who wrote the bill to stop the burning of tyres during protests. He fought for the right of Nepali children to get citizenship with their mothers’ name. He has publicly stated that he won't be involved in active politics after the age of 55 because he doesn't want his successor to face the same problem of generational shift he faced in his time. This is a symbol of his wholeheartedness and dedication to Nepali politics.^[7]

Recently, he was elected into the position of President of Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources. He has also served in important committees for drafting the new constitution of Nepal during both tenures of the Constituent Assembly.

Personal life

He married Dr. Anjana KC Thapa in 2008.

Publication

He has contributed a lot in formulating constitution of Nepal of 2072 BS. He has authored and edited Nepali Congress kaa Aitehasik Dastaawejharu, a book on historical database of Nepali Congress party.

References

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