New Leadership in Nepal Chess Federation, Old Committee Dissolved

Kathmandu. The special general assembly of the Nepal Chess Federation has unanimously elected a new executive committee after passing a vote of no-confidence against the previous committee.

Out of the Federation’s total 118 representatives, 40 had registered a no-confidence motion against then-President Herakaji Maharjan and General Secretary Dharmabahadur Lama, levelling various allegations. Following the passage of the motion by the special general assembly, the old committee was dissolved and a new leadership was elected.

The representatives levelled multiple charges against the Federation’s leadership, including failure to convene regular general assemblies, inability to maintain financial transparency, creating a burden of approximately 5.4 million rupees in irregularities under the Federation’s name, and demonstrating irresponsibility in sports administration. Furthermore, the leadership has been accused of irresponsibility for Nepal’s exclusion from participation in prestigious international tournaments such as the Chess Olympiad.

The representatives stated that the Federation had failed to carry out necessary work for the protection and development of players’ rights and interests, resorted to threatening players and officials who raised their voices, and that trust in the leadership could no longer be sustained due to serious allegations, including human trafficking, being linked to the Federation’s name.

Newly elected General Secretary Dhan Bahadur Bogati informed that the general assembly, based on the demand of the majority of members, dissolved the old committee and decided to convene the Federation’s regular tenth general assembly within 90 days.

The new executive committee elected unanimously by the special general assembly will be led by Dipen Rai as President.

Gyanendra Parajuli has been elected as Senior Vice President, with Bishwa Bijay Ghimire and Tara Bahadur Ranabhat as Vice Presidents. Dhan Bahadur Bogati is the General Secretary, Bijayabodh Lawati the Deputy General Secretary, and Bir Bahadur Rawat the Treasurer.

Elected as members are Kusmakar Kafle, Umesh Shah Sana, Bhagawati Adhikari, Dinesh Thapa, Dirgharaj Adhikari, Dharmi Khadka, Sabina Lamgade, Tikadevi Bhandari, Laxmi Kandangwa, and Anju Shah.

The Federation stated that the new committee has decided to complete the regular general assembly within the next 90 days, with a commitment to institutional reform, financial transparency, creating a player-friendly environment, participation in international-level tournaments, and making the Federation’s regular activities institutionally effective.