Nabina Lama of Lamsal’s panel was elected general secretary, defeating Rachana Khadka, while Rasmi Acharya from the Malla panel got elected as treasurer, said Usha Kiran Timilsina, a student leader present at the vote counting venue at the UML head office, Balkhu. [break]
The election committee was yet to make official announcement until late evening. A member of the election committee confirmed the result of office bearers but refused to be quoted before the official announcement.
The election saw a tough competition between the two panels led by Malla and Lamsal. Though Malla won the top post, the Lamsal panel secured some of the key positions, including two of the three vice-chairpersons, general secretary and three of the five secretaries. Malla is backed by the top leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Sharma Oli while Lamsal is supported by party chairman Jhalanath Khanal.
Of the three vice-chairpersons, Ain Mahar is from the Malla panel, and Deepak Gautam and Thomas are from the other panel. Of the five elected secretaries, Radhika Khatiwada, Bhakta Kumari Lama and Abdul Hussain Khan are from the Lamsal group while Mahesh Bartaula and Saroj Yadav are from the other group.
The election was held to elect 135-member central committee, including the 45-member secretariat members. Results for the remaining posts were yet to be announced until late evening.
Student leaders present at the venue said that the trend of vote counting showed that both the panels will have parallel presence in the central body.
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