Arjun Narasingha KC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| अर्जुन नरसिंह केसी | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of Urban Development | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 26 August 2016 – 31 May 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Narayan Khadka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Prabhu Sah | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of Education and Minister of Housing & Physical Planning | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 15 April 1998 – 31 May 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Girija Prasad Koirala | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Kul Bahadur Gurung | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Yog Prasad Upadhaya | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of Health and Population | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 22 September 1995 – 12 March 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Sher Bahadur Deuba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Padma Ratna Tuladhar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Radha Krishna Mainali | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| State Minister of Health and Population | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 10 October 1982 – 3 July 1983 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Surya Bahadur Thapa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Birendra Bahadur Singh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Omkar Prasad Gauchan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1947-09-27)27 September 1947 (age 78) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Nepali | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Nepali Congress | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Pratima KC[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent(s) | Bhagwan Singh (father) Yasoda Devi KC (mother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Tribhuvan University (LLB)(M.A.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | arjunnarasinghakc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arjun Narasingha KC (Nepali:अर्जुन नरसिंह केसी) (born 27 September 1947), also known asANKC, is aNepalipolitician and formerProfessor, currently serving as a Member of Parliament (MP) fromNuwakot representing theNepali Congress Party.[2] KC has served as minister in various coalition governments holding Education, Health, Housing & Physical Planning and Urban Development portfolios.[3][4] KC has been elected to the national parliament a total of four times from his constituency ofNuwakot.
He has served in the capacity of Joint General Secretary of theNepali Congress (NC) and the spokesperson of the party.[2]
In the14th General Convention of the Nepali Congress, KC put forward his candidacy for the Central Committee citing the need for youth leadership in the party. He is now a Senior Leader in theCentral Executive Committee advocating foranti-corruption laws,transparency andaccountability in the parliament and within the party.[5]
Arjun Narasingha KC was born on 27 September 1947 to Bhagwan Singh KC and Yasoda Devi KC inRautbesi,Nuwakot.[6][7]
KC holds aLLB, as well as, a master's degree inpolitical science both fromTribhuwan University,Kathmandu, Nepal.[8] Prior to entering politics, he was a Professor and Head of the Political Science department at theTribhuvan University and also a practicing advocate.[9]
In addition, he completed a fellowship atTufts University, Fletcher School of Diplomacy,Boston,USA inInternational Relations and Foreign Policy decision making in 1982.
KC first entered the political arena being elected as the General Secretary of Shanti Vidya Griha High School from 1961-63.[10] At the age of 15, while still a student, he was imprisoned for the first time due to his involvement indemocraticactivism. Over the course of his life, he served a total of six years and nine months in prison for his steadfast commitment to democratic principles.[11]
He then served subsequently as the Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of National (currently known asShanker Dev Campus) from 1964-1967.In 1973, he was elected as the Central Member of the Democratic Socialist Youth League convened by the NC inVaranasi.[10]
KC led the Student Rally Coordination Committee, a student assembly organizing committee formed byBP Koirala before the establishment of theNepal Student Union (NSU), whereRam Chandra Poudel andSher Bahadur Deuba, were appointed as members.[12][13] He is a founding member and coordinator of the NSU. At the instructions of the senior Congress leadership, KC ran and won a seat in the1981 Rastriya Panchayat Election, contesting as anindependent.[14]KC first served as the State Minister for Health underSurya Bahadur Thapa from 1982 to 1983 and then as the Minister for Health, Education and Physical Planning from 1995 to 1999.[15][16] KC was elected as a member of parliament twice in the 1991 and 1994 parliamentary elections.[9][17]
During the1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, KC, as a student leader, played a significant role in supporting the Bangladeshi independence movement. Under the leadership of BP Koirala, the Nepali Congress purchased and stored arms in Varanasi, India, which KC helped supply to theMukti Bahini. This effort was part of a broader strategy by the Nepali Congress to align with Bangladesh's fight for independence, viewing it as a means to advance their own movement for parliamentary democracy in Nepal. Between 2011 and 2013, Bangladesh conferred theBangladesh Freedom Honour on 335 individuals to recognize their significant contributions. A national committee, comprising ministers, civil servants, and civil society representatives, was established to identify these distinguished "Friends of Bangladesh". KC was awarded the Honour for his role in the independence movement.[18]
In 1996, KC played a critical role in the overhaul of theNepali healthcare system aimed at getting the surplus of doctors in urban areas to move out into the understaffedhill andterai regions.[19] Contemporary reporting in ''The Lancet'' noted strong incentives, more rapid promotion, and increased allowances and training opportunities for those working in underserved regions of Nepal. In addition, stricter enforcement of promotion criteria, and limitation of "kaaj"-the oft-used loophole by which a doctor posted to the hills could arrange a return to the city on a temporary but indefinite transfer. The new legislation restricted this practice to one month per year. In addition, the parliament passed several key pieces of health legislation during this period.[20][21] These included the Nepal Nursing Council Act, 2052 (1996), which established a regulation body for nurses in Nepal; theB.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital Act, 2053 (1996), creating the country’s national cancer referral center; the Nepal Health Professional Council Act, 2053 (1997), which coveredallied health professions; the Nepal Health Service Act, 2053 (1997), which governed the recruitment, deployment and promotion within the national healthcare system.[22] The Nepal Health Service Rules (1999) later codified the provisions on postings and transfers of healthcare professionals.[23]
Moreover, KC focused on public health programs forprevention and as such NationalImmunization Days againstpolio were conducted annually from 1996, covering ~3.3 million children under-five each year.[24] Nepal’s polio programme reported >80% coverage in 1996–1998.[25]
KC had expressed cautious support for private-sector involvement in healthcare while prioritising public service programs. In discussions with development partners, KC argued that foreign donor funding should focus on district and rural health services rather than private care. KC emphasised investment in training health personnel and stated that donor-supported projects would be welcomed if they resulted in more qualified staff.[26]
KC was once again appointed as the Minister of Education, in theSecond GP Koirala Cabinet.[27][28] KC significantly advanced the recognition of Nepali educational qualifications by facilitating agreements with foreign countries to ensure the equivalence of Nepali degrees for internationalhigher education. His efforts enabled Nepali students to pursue further studies abroad more effectively, overcoming previous challenges where Nepali degrees were often deemed outdated or unrecognized for foreign academic purposes.[29]
In 1998, the old neoclassical garden in Keshar Mahal was to be demolished for the construction of a commercial center. However, KC on the advice ofKarna Shakya stopped the demolition work at once and declared it open to the public with a new name,Garden of Dreams.[30][31]
In 1999, KC was nominated as the Chief of the International Relation Department of the Nepali Congress party. On 25 September 2000, KC was appointed as thespokesperson of the NC by then party presidentGirija Prasad Koirala.[32]
KC was the Coordinator ofKathmandu Valley on behalf ofNC inSeven Party Alliance (SPA) for People's Movement against the direct rule ofFormer King Gyanendra.[33][34]
On 16 February 2005, Nepali Police arrested KC at the party office in Sanepa for the first time since the king clamped a state of emergency and banned protests, detained key party leaders and suspended fundamental rights.[35] KC spent three months in prison before being released and he was arrested again a week after while attending a party meeting inBanke, Nepal.[36]
KC was appointed as the Joint-General Secretary by GP Koirala after the 11th General Convention of the Nepali Congress, which was held in Kathmandu in August 2005.[37]
After the King announced the restoration of the dissolved House of Representatives on 24 April 2006, KC called the decision “the victory of the people’s movement,” echoing the SPA’s public stance as protests wound down.[38] The political backdrop to these events was the SPA–Maoist 12-point memorandum of understanding of November 2005, which set the roadmap for ending autocratic monarchy and restoring multiparty democracy.[39]
KC was a candidate fromNuwakot 1 (constituency) in the2008 Nepali Constituent Assembly election but lost toCPN (Maoist) candidate Bimala Subedi.
On 21 September 2010, KC was elected for the third time as the Central Committee member in the12th General Convention of the Nepali Congress, securing the second highest votes - 2,034 out of 3,087 votes cast.
The first constituent assembly was dissolved due to its failure to promulgate the constitution in time.[40] Thesecond constituent assembly elections were held on 19 November 2013. Once again, KC placed his candidacy from Nuwakot 1 and was elected with a margin of over 8,000 votes against UCPN (Maoist) candidateBimala Subedi.[41]
During the constitutional discussions, KC reaffirmed his support for federalism. In 2014, he openly declared his party’s commitment to a seven‑state federal model, emphasizing the importance ofdecentralized governance in meeting the aspirations of diverse communities.[42]
During his stint at the Ministry of Urban Development, KC played a strong role in promotingsustainable development goals while formulating the fiscal program for the upcoming year. On 23 April 2017, KC instituted thePeople’s Housing Program with the goal of providing 25,000 homes to the disadvantaged communities outside the valley.[43]
In addition, on 26 April 2017, KC gave the final nod to begin the construction of theouter ring road in Kathmandu to makeurbanization more systematic. The proposed 71.93 km road was shelved for over 13 years due to political infighting and corruption. The first phase of the construction of the outer ring road will commence along 6.6 kmChobhar-Gamcha-Satungal stretch from the forthcoming fiscal and cover approximately 8,000ropanis of land area belonging to over 14,000 landowners. Of the total length of the ring road,Kathmandu,Lalitpur andBhaktapur will have a coverage of 35.08 km, 15.80 km and 21.05 km respectively.[44]
Moreover, KC also authored the foreword to Nepal’s National Report to theUN’s Habitat III Conference inQuito on 18 October 2016, outlining priorities for sustainable and systematic urbanization.[45] In his address, he reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable cities. KC emphasized the importance of building disaster-resilient infrastructure in response to the2015 Nepal earthquakes, advocating for the “build-back-better” principle as a core principle of Nepal’s reconstruction strategy.[46][47]
He lost in the2017 elections to CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) common candidate Narayan Khatiwada.[48]
In November 2020, when the government moved to remove the phrase "Federal Democratic Republic" from Nepal’s official name, KC criticized the effort. He described it as “an unfortunate and bad omen,” noting that it was in violation of Article 4 of the2015 Constitution.[49]
In the14th General Convention, KC played a leading role forming theKoirala-KC-Thapa camp in preparation for the party elections.[50] KC was once again elected to the Central Working Committee with 2,650 votes, during the 14th General Convention.[51] On 28 January 2022, KC was nominated to theCentral Executive Committee, consisting of the top leadership of the Congress Party, by party presidentSher Bahadur Deuba.[52]
On 17 February 2022, KC released a book 'Brief History of the Nepali Congress' at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Baluwatar. PM Deuba launched the book and expressed the view that all the citizens should read the book written by KC, saying the book would be a guideline to anyone who wanted to know about the party's history.[53]
At the2022 general election, KC wonNuwakot 2 as the candidate of Nepali Congress, securing 28,107 votes to defeat Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Suman Bikram Pandey by a margin of over 11,000 votes.[54]
KC currently serves on the House of Representatives' PAC.[55] In June 2024, the PAC formed two subcommittees to investigate suspected irregularities in the construction of thePokhara andGautam Buddha (Bhairahawa) international airports; a 12-member panel included KC among its members.[56][57] In April 2025, the Pokhara Airport subcommittee found significant corruption, citing amounts up to Rs. 14 billion, KC argued there was evidence of corruption from the outset and supported implementing the report's findings.[58][59]
In January 2025, at a PAC meeting, KC stated there had been illegal bargaining going on for the approval of a new stock exchange.[60] He urged his fellow committee members to be informed regarding such backroom deals.
In June 2024, KC criticized the governmentbudget for FY 2081/2082 describing it as "ambitious" and "beyond reality".[61] He condemned the distributive nature of the budget and urged the government to heed the advice of the private sector for economic growth.
In August 2024, KC urged the government to reconsider a proposed provision to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act (2002), which would have placed a five-year time limit on corruption investigations, warning this would undermine good governance.[62] He proposed the formation of a powerful commission consisting of formerChief Justices of Nepal to probe irregularities and scandals that have plagued the government.[63]
Moreover, in May 2025, during theappropriation bill debate, KC stressed that the new budget must reflect the aspirations and act beyond just revenue and expenditure.[64] KC suggested that policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year should be focused on ensuring the financial security of themarginalized communities and the people living below theabsolute poverty line by focusing onsocial justice. He criticized the budget stating that a large percentage ofcapital expenditure was focused on a handful of districts instead of addressing the needs of the country as a whole.[65]
On June 28, 2025, after the devastating2025 Nepal floods, at a session of parliament, KC reiterated the need fordisaster prevention and risk management citingNepal's geography places it at a high risk forfloods andlandslides.[66] He also pointed out the need for better coordination between the differentlevels of government, federal, provincial and local, to optimize rescue efforts and help those in need of immediate relief.
KC, although a key member in the 14th General Convention of the anti-establishment camp, reiterated that ifGagan Thapa andShekhar Koirala were to act independently then he would not support them in the upcoming general convention.[67] On 12 December 2023, KC hosted a three-hour long meeting between the two to facilitate dialogue to sort out key political differences.[68]
On June 11, 2024, at a party program held to commemorate the 15th memorial day ofShailaja Acharya, KC urged fellow NC leaders to adhere by rules and the party constitution.[69] He emphasized the need to solve intra-party problems through dialogue to further strengthen the party unity.
On 3 July 2025, KC strongly criticized the party leadership after 18 leaders were suspended from the party by the party's discipline committee.[70][71] He stated thatfactionalism was rife in the committee's decision and the leaders were targeted in-lieu of the upcoming general convention. He further stated the need to hold elections for theparty's sister organizations, stating it had been 9 years since elections were held and the continuous formation of ad hoc committee's was against the party statue.
He has continuously argued for the need to hold the 15th General Convention of the Nepali Congress by December 2025 to give new life to the party and states that the date should be finalized by the Central Working Committee of the party based on consensus.[72]
In memory of his parents, Yashoda Devi and Bhagwan Singh, KC and his family established the Yashoda Devi–Bhagwan Singh KC Memorial Trust, anon-profit organization, which focuses on healthcare and educational initiatives in his hometown district of Nuwakot.[73]
Since its establishment in 2013, the trust has organized over two dozen free health camps across rural Nuwakot, including a programme inBelkotgadhi Municipality in Nuwakot on February 2021 that served over 700 citizens with general,orthopaedic,gynaecology,dental,ENT, anddermatology, as well as X-ray and ECG services.[74][75]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic, the trust supplied medical equipment to health facilities across Nuwakot, including nineoxygen concentrators,ICU beds,PPE, masks, and sanitizers for Trishuli Hospital, Kaule Health Post, and rural municipalities such asKispang,Tarkeshwar andMyagang.[76][77] The trust has also supported local schools by providing computers, hygiene kits, and warm clothing, including a donation of goods worth approximately Rs 850,000 to Chandra Devi Basic School and Sanukimtang Secondary School in Myagang Rural Municipality.[78]
1991 legislative elections (Nuwakot 3)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepali Congress | Arjun Narasingha K.C. | 11,086 | |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Mahendra Pande | 10,140 | |
| Result | Congress gain | ||
| Source:[2] | |||
1994 legislative elections (Nuwakot 3)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepali Congress | Arjun Narasingha K.C. | 15,951 | |
| Rastriya Prajatantra Party | Prakash Chandra Lohani | 10,387 | |
| Result | Congress hold | ||
| Source: Election Commission[79] | |||
1999 legislative elections (Nuwakot 3)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Mahendra Pande | 13,177 | |
| Nepali Congress | Arjun Narasingha K.C. | 12,808 | |
| Result | CPN (UML) gain | ||
| Source:[3] | |||
2008 Constituent Assembly election (Nuwakot 1)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPN (Maoist) | Bimala Subedi | 20,581 | |
| Nepali Congress | Arjun Narasingha K.C. | 12,984 | |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Rajendra Prakash Lohani | 6,730 | |
| Rastriya Janashakti Party | Rajendra Prasad Shrestha | 4,720 | |
| CPN (Marxist–Leninist) | Kedar Nath Bajgain | 2,237 | |
| Others | 1,648 | ||
| Invalid votes | 3,286 | ||
| Result | Maoist gain | ||
| Source: Election Commission[80] | |||
2013 Constituent Assembly election (Nuwakot 1)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepali Congress | Arjun Narasingha K.C. | 17,346 | |
| UCPN (Maoist) | Bimala Subedi | 9,145 | |
| Rastriya Prajatantra Party | Dr.Prakash Chandra Lohani | 6,927 | |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Keshav Raj Pandey | 6,401 | |
| Others | 1,235 | ||
| Result | Congress gain | ||
| Source: NepalNews[41] | |||
2017 legislative elections (Nuwakot 2)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Narayan Prasad Khatiwada | 36,892 | |
| Nepali Congress | Arjun Narasingha K.C. | 26,335 | |
| Others | 1,830 | ||
| Invalid votes | 4,770 | ||
| Result | CPN (UML) gain | ||
| Source:Election Commission | |||
2022 general election (Nuwakot 2)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepali Congress | Arjun Narasingha K.C. | 28,107 | |
| Rastriya Swatantra Party | Suman Bikram Pandey | 16,477 | |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | Narayan Prasad Khatiwada | 15,561 | |
| Rastriya Prajatantra Party | Jhanak Pyakurel | 1,571 | |
| Others | 1,288 | ||
| Result | Congress gain | ||
| Source:Election Commission | |||
KC has six brothers and three sisters. He has five children including four daughters and one son. His second oldest daughter, Anjana KC Thapa, married popular youth leader and former Health MinisterGagan Thapa.[81][82]
His younger brother,Jagadiswor Narsingh KC, served in both the first and second Constituent Assembly and was elected three times as the President of Nepali Congress Nuwakot.[83] In addition,Kedar Narsingh KC, his brother, previously served as the President of theNepal Medical Council and the Director of the Tuberculosis Center.[84][85]
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