According to party sources, Prakash Man Singh, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Arjun Nara Singh KC have said they will accept Koirala´s decision.[break] However, Sujata Koirala has remained firm on her decision despite Koirala´s request for the withdrawal of her candidacy for the post of general secretary.
During the three rounds of meetings with all five aspirants for the post of general on Thursday and Friday, Koirala had tried to convince Sujata not to stake claim for the post of general secretary. But the meetings failed to pick up a consensus candidate as Sujata remained adamant in her decision.
Koirala had asked all the aspirants to accept the decision taken by a team comprising NC leaders Ram Krishna Tamrakar, Amod Prasad Upadhyaya and Shashanka Koirala.
Sources said Koirala will formally announce the name of his “running mate” after holding a meeting on Saturday morning.
Speaking at a function in the capital Friday afternoon, Sujata said she will contest independently for the post but not from the panels of any of the top leaders. “Panel politics fosters a culture of factionalism in the party,” she said. “I will fight independently instead of choosing to be a part of any panel.”
She also reiterated that she will not withdraw her decision under any one´s pressure. She said she has decided to be the first woman candidate to fight for the post of general secretary.
Koirala seeks support of third front leaders
NC third front leaders have tuned down the request of party presidential candidate Sushil Koirala to support him in the upcoming 12th general convention.
Acting President Koirala had recently urged third front leaders Nara Hari Acharya and Chakra Prasad Bastola to support his panel, withdrawing their decision to field candidacies in the convention.
Bastola said they told Koirala that they are not in favor of withdrawing their candidacies. “There is no point in walking out of the race,” he said, adding: “We said we won´t withdraw since we are fighting for agendas.”
Koirala held a meeting with Bastola three days ago at his residence in Maharajgunj. He had also talked to Tamang and Acharya over phone to woo their support by assuring that he would address all the agendas raised by them.
Almost all NC third front leaders including Tamang, Acharya and Bastola were a part of establishment faction led by Koirala during the party´s 11th general convention. The establishment faction is likely to lose votes should Tamang and Acharya remain firm in their decision to field candidacies in the convention.
Tamang and Acharya have already announced their candidacies for the post of president and general secretary, respectively. Among other things, the third front aims at making the party leadership inclusive of all groups, facilitating even those having no links with “established families” in the party to make it to the party´s top posts.
Bastola said they will be fielding candidacies to affirm the value that one should get to lead the party by virtue of his/her caliber and leadership skills. “I made it clear that we have not split the party out of anger with anyone. We are instead fighting for our agendas,” he added.
Related story
56 secys, 662 joint-secys and 848 under-secys adjusted in three...
