As the student leaders in the ANNFSU, the wing of the CPN-UML, have been sharply divided along the factional rivalry in the mother party, the election of the student organization is keenly watched not only in the educational sector but also in the overall political sphere as well. [break]
While candidates for the chairperson of the union have almost been fixed, aspirants for other key posts are busy in hectic meetings and negotiations for the last couple of days.
Kishore Bikram Malla, general secretary of the outgoing central executive committee, Vice-chairpersons Laxman Lamsal, Bhim Rai, Nabina Lama and Sudhir Sah have been lobbying for the post of chairperson. As the mother party´s key leaders´ support becomes crucial for winning the election, Lamsal and Malla are widely believed to become the top two competitors for the post of the ANNFSU chairperson. Sources said that party Chairman Jhalanath Khanal´s faction has backed Lamsal while Malla has got blessing of UML heavyweight KP Sharma Oli.
According to various student leaders, Khanal personally has a soft corner to Lama as well but a group of key leaders from the Khanal faction chose Lamsal thinking that he can be the right candidate to challenge Malla. Sudhir Sah has been lobbying to get elected unanimously arguing that he is the only person who can be acceptable as consensus candidate even to ther candidates as well.
Both Lamsal and Malla have faced serious difficulties as their own panels remain fractured. While Lama is from Lamsal´s panel, Rai is from Malla´s faction. Student leaders close to Lamsal said he is trying to convince Lama to become vice-chair or general secretary from his team.
For another key post of general secretary, the likely candidates are Rachana Khadka, Thomas Bastola and Bachan Singh. While Rachana is from Malla panel, Thomas is from Lamsal´s team. Also, Saroj Yadav and Deepak Gautam are among other aspirants for the post.
The general convention is to elect the 135-member central body along with three vice-chairpersons, five secretaries and one treasurer.
Radhika Khatiwada, Bhakta Kumari Lama, Nilkantha Acharya and Kamal Bohara are among the aspirants for the post of secretary.
Lamsal said he is working with his friends to prepare his team for the election and will come up with a concrete plan within a couple of days.
Malla said that those who were secretaries in the outgoing committee will most likely be elected for the post of general secretary and vice-chairpersons. “Those who were secretariat members in the outgoing committee will be contenders for the post of secretaries and treasurer,” said Malla.
Student leaders said that key leaders from the mother party have become active to select candidates for the top posts because youth and student wings are the most influential wings in CPN-UML.
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