Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala has said that he will vie for the position of party president in the upcoming general convention.

Speaking during a press meet organised by Morang-chapter of the Press Union on Wednesday, leader Koirala said that the NC youth leaders should not rush in to take the party’s top post saying that the NC was built on the zeal of the youths and the experience of the elder leaders.

“I have matured in terms of politics and I am ready to take the party leadership in the upcoming general convention,” said leader Koirala adding that he will initiate signature campaign if party President Sher Bahadur Deuba fails to call the meeting of party’s central committee immediately.

A general committee meeting should be called to amend the party statute towards federal structure which will be decided by the central committee meet, said leader Koirala, “After the amendment all rights of the regional presidents should be handed over to local level presidents.”

Leader Koirala further said that he is not in favour of changing party leadership through special general convention. “The party must start making preparations to hold the party general conclave soon after the general committee amends the party statute,” he said adding that the party must seriously deal with the machination against him during the recently held elections.

Likewise, leader Koirala said that the left alliance of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) should form the government and the NC should stay in the opposition.

Saying that the people had given their mandate to the NC to play the role of opposition and build the party organisation, leader Koirala said, “The left alliance should form the government and the NC should not opt to form the government with CPN (MC) and also the party should not indulge in breaking the left alliance as it would be against the people’s mandate.”