The Nepali Congress is likely to see a three-way contest, with at least two leaders from the establishment camp and senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba vying for the post of party president, during its 13th General Convention beginning Thursday.

Acting President Ram Chandra Poudel and General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula, both from the establishment faction, are set to announce their candidacy for party presidency on Wednesday, while Deuba is planning to wait for one more day. According to leaders, Poudel will announce his candidacy, along with his panel, at 4pm, an hour after Sitaula announces his candidacy.

Withdrawing his claim for the post of party president, General Secretary Prakash Man Singh has decided to support Poudel, who, if elected, has promised to return favour by appointing Singh as the party vice-president. Shashank Koirala is all set to fight for the post of general secretary from the Poudel camp. The Poudel faction, however, is yet to pick the candidate for treasurer.

After several rounds of talks between Poudel and Sitaula failed to yield any result, the latter has decided to throw his hat in the ring for the party presidency. “Even after announcing their teams, both sides have agreed to continue negotiations,” said NC leader Madhu Acharya, a leader close to Poudel. Sitaula has picked youth leader Gagan Thapa as the general secretary candidate. Sitaula is also learnt to have approached Shashank Koirala with an offer of general secretary post.

Poudel has offered the post of vice-president to Sujata Koirala, who has also announced that she will fight for party presidency. But it is unclear if she will follow through on her pronouncements. NC sources say she is struggling to find candidates for her panel and may not file her candidacy.

Sitaula is likely to pick Padma Narayan or Farmulha Mansur as a candidate of treasurer. At a meeting with two dozen district presidents of the party, Sitaula is learnt to have said: “I will not withdraw my candidacy at any cost”.