Miscellaneous
Rival factions in final bid to pick candidates
Two rival factions of the Nepali Congress are in their final bid to announce key candidacies as the date for the party’s General Convention (GC) draws near.Anil Giri
Two rival factions of the Nepali Congress are in their final bid to announce key candidacies as the date for the party’s General Convention (GC) draws near.
The NC is holding its 13th GC in Kathmandu on March 3- 6.
Though some leaders are trying to mend fences, the rivalry between the establishment faction, which says it carries the legacy of the Koiralas, and the Sher Bahadur Deuba camp has but deepened.
Compared to the establishment side, the Deuba faction is in more comfortable situation when it comes to picking candidates for various posts.
Deuba has already announced his candidacy for the post of party president.
The establishment faction on Thursday and Friday held a series of closed door discussions to finalise candidates for the posts of party president, general secretary and treasurer as well as other nominated positions like vice president, general secretary and joint secretary general.
While Poudel is working hard to get his name endorsed as the official candidate for party presidency, there are other aspirants as well for the post, making the equation in the establishment side a bit tricky. The establishment faction so far has decided to field
Poudel for the post of party president and Shashank Koirala for the post of elected general secretary.
Over two dozen party leaders were present in the series of meetings that were held in the last two days.
Our candidate for the post of president is Poudel, said Shekhar Koirala, adding that the Koiralas will remain united and throw the weight behind Poudel.
But incumbent General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula’s stance that he would also throw his hat in the ring for party presidency has put the establishment side in a fix.
Prakash Man Singh, another party general secretary, is also staking claim to the post of party president.
“I am trying to manage both; I am holding talks with them,” said Poudel.
A team of party leaders including Dilendra Badu, Shashanka and Minendra Rijal among others is also reaching out to both Singh and Sitaula to convince them.
But Sitaula believes that if he, Poudel and Deuba contest for the party presidency, he will receive second highest number of votes and Poudel will be out of the contest.
In the second round, with the support of the establishment faction, Sitaula believes he can beat Deuba.
But Deuba, who has already offered Arjun Nar Singh KC the post of general secretary, is planning to ride on the vote bank of leaders like Khum Bahadur Khadka and others who enjoy a strong clout in the party.
If KC’s candidacy is confirmed, another aspirant for the post of general secretary, Gagan Thapa, who is popular among the youth, is unlikely to contest the election from the Deuba faction. Thapa is KC’s son-in-law and he is under pressure not to file his candidacy, said a Congress leader.
Bimalendra Nidhi, one of the key kingmakers in the Deuba camp, said Deuba is in a very comfortable position. “I will not contest for general secretary post if KC becomes our candidate from our side,” said Nidhi.