NC establishment wins in 25 districts, Deuba in 13

KATHMANDU, Feb 16: With results of the district and local conventions of Nepali Congress (NC) pouring in from across the country, the party establishment faction is looking strong in most of the districts. Out of the 38 district conventions that concluded by Tuesday, the establishment side emerged victorious in 25, while Deuba faction won in 13.

The NC district conventions in many Tarai districts are yet to take place. A leader close to Deuba faction claimed that it would lead in those districts as Bimalendra Nidhi, who is close to Deuba, has a strong grip over party cadres in Tarai-Madhes.

According to leaders, Leela Devi Bokhim in Taplejung, Narendra Kerung in Panchthar, Uddab Thapa in Jhapa, Rajeev Koirala in Sunsari, Nandamani Rai in Bhojpur, Naresh Kumar Shrestha in Khotang, Bir Bahadur Basnet in Udaypur, Ujwal Baral in Sindhuli have been elected as district president of the party from the establishment faction. Likewise, Madhu Acharya in Kavre, Ramesh Dhamala in Dhading, Jagdishwor Narshing KC in Nuwakot, Jeetnarayan Shrestha in Chitwan, Hari Bahadur Ghale in Gorkha, Baikuntha Neupane in Tanahun, Krishna KC in Kaski, Yanji Bista in Mustang, Bir Bahadur Rana in Palpa, Bishnu Prasad Khanal in Arghakanchi and Surendra Raj Acharya in Kapilvastu also made it to the post of district president of NC from the establishment bloc.
Likewise, Sanjau Gautam in Bardiya, Kamal Raj Regmi in Surket, Deepak Jung Shah in Jajarkot, Khadka Bahadur Shahi in Mugu, Harsha Bahadur Bam in Kalikot, Narendra Singh Thapa in Baitdadi also got elected as district president representing the NC establishment side.
Those elected to NC’s district president representing Deuba factions are, Deek Bahadur Limbu in Morang, Agni Paudel in Dhankuta, Pradeep Kumar Sunuwar in Okhaldhunga, Indra Bahadur Baniya in Makwanpur, Madan Amatya in Lalitpur, Bishnu Lamichhane in Nawalparasi, Abdul Razzaq in Rupendehi, Tek Bahadur Gurung in Manang, Kamal Pangeni in Syanga, Pradeep Deuba in Doti, Karna Bahadur Malla in Dadeldhura, Jayapati Rokaya in Humla and Kabiraj Pandit in Bajura.
Meanwhile, NC’s election of Kathmandu district is being held Wednesday. Bhimsen Das Pradhan and Sabuj Baniya, both from establishment faction, are contesting for district president. District convention of Bhaktapur is scheduled for Thursday and the voting will be held on Friday.