Senior Nepali Congress leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba has claimed that he supported the prime minister’s candidacy of party President Sushil Koirala as per the latter’s desire.

Speaking with some NC leaders close to him on Wednesday, Deuba said, “ Despite his repeated commitment that he will not consent the PM’s election after the promulgation of the new constitution, it was Koirala’s mistake to file the candidacy. Since he expressed his interest, I supported his bid,” Deuba said.

Koirala is responsible for inviting such complicated situation, he said, adding that he just supported Koirala’s bid after he expressed his desire to run in the prime minister’s race. “I didn’t attend the meeting called by Koirala last Friday evening, nor did I meet the Indian ambassador,” he told his loyalists. “It is also not true that a meeting that I attended decided to field Koirala.”

Ahead of the prime ministerial election on Sunday, there were media reports that Koirala and Deuba had jointly held a meeting with Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae. After Koirala expressed his desire to become the prime minister again, I assisted him, Deuba clarified.

In the meeting, leaders close to Deuba said that Koirala should resign as the party parliamentary leader on a moral ground.

NC lawmaker Ram Hari Khatiwada said it is a matter of shame for NC that Koirala decided to run for the prime ministerial position after he had publicly announced that he will not seek the second term.

The Deuba camp will soon chart out its future strategy and raise the demand Koirala’s resignation from party parliamentary leader’s post in upcoming party Central Working Committee.