Nepal, Aug. 14 -- Nepali Congress (NC) leader Sujata Koirala has urged outgoing party president Sher Bahadur Deuba to rise above leadership rivalry and accept party president Gagan Kumar Thapa's leadership to strengthen unity within the party.

Speaking at the ongoing Central Working Committee meeting, Koirala called on Deuba to play a parental role in the party and prioritize the interests of the party and country over personal ambitions and factional interests.

She also urged leaders from the rival faction to set aside their egos and join the party's mainstream, warning that internal disputes would weaken the NC.

Koirala praised Thapa's leadership, saying her initial concerns about how he would lead the party had eased after observin...