Presidential Advisor Sunil Bahadur Thapa Quits Post to Rejoin Frontline Nepali Congress Politics
KATHMANDU: Sunil Bahadur Thapa, Political Advisor to the President, has resigned from his position to return to active politics within the Nepali Congress (NC), citing the upcoming elections and the party’s general convention as key reasons.
In his resignation letter, Thapa said the current political environment required deeper engagement in “meaningful political activities” to advance the vision of both the party and the nation. “To ensure my political future within the mainstream political arena, I hereby submit my resignation from the post of Political Advisor,” he wrote.
Thapa had served as Political Advisor since Chaitra 14, 2079 BS (April 2023) under President Ram Chandra Paudel. Expressing gratitude, he thanked the President and the staff of the presidential office for their cooperation and guidance, noting that he had carried out his duties with “honesty and dedication.” He requested that his resignation be accepted so he could re-engage as a core member of the Nepali Congress.
The son of late former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, Sunil Bahadur Thapa entered Nepali politics in 2011 after resigning from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), where he had built an international career. He initially joined the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and was elected from Dhankuta-2 in the second Constituent Assembly elections of 2070 BS, later serving as a central committee member.
Thapa has held several key government roles, including Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies in the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led cabinet of 2047 BS (1990–91). In 2077 BS (2020), he joined the Nepali Congress and was appointed Joint General Secretary, later securing election to the central committee during the party’s 14th general convention.
His return to active party politics comes at a pivotal moment as the Nepali Congress prepares for internal organizational elections and national polls. With ministerial experience, international exposure, and a senior role in the party, Thapa’s re-entry is widely expected to bolster the NC’s organizational strength ahead of the political contests to come.
