Nidhi appointed vice-prez, Khadka general secretary, Mahat joint general secretary

KATHMANDU, May 5: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has appointed the party's three office bearer candidates amid opposition from the party's rival factions led by Ram Chandra Paudel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula. 

A Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held at the party's headquarters in Sanepa on Friday endorsed the appointment of Bimalendra Nidhi as vice-president, Purna Bahadur Khadka as general secretary and Prakash Sharan Mahat as joint general secretary. All three leaders are considered close to President Deuba.
A CWC meeting which had been called for Monday to pick office bearer candidates was put off for Friday to forge consensus on the issue after the Paudel faction threatened to boycott the meeting. Paudel faction had maintained that the appointment of vice president, general secretary and joint general secretary should be made on the basis of consensus, demanding at least one of the three office bearers' positions to them.

The appointment of office bearers on Friday was made through majority votes as Paudel faction seriously objected to the proposal. As per the statute, the appointment has to be made within two months since the general convention. The rival factions maintained that there must be consensus if the appointment has to be made against the provisions set in the party's statute.

Earlier, President Deuba had sent Prakash Sharan Mahat and NP Saud as his emissaries to hold negotiations with Paudel to settle the nomination row. But as President Deuba did not stand ready to give in to the demand of the Paudel faction, consensus could not be reached.
 
NC CWC member Prakash Man Singh, among others, have not signed Friday's decision of the CWC, expressing serious dissatisfaction. Another faction within the party led by Krishna Prasad Sitaula has also opposed the nominations made 26 months after the party's general convention. 
Meanwhile, a meeting of the Paudel faction leaders has decided not to recognize the decision saying the decision is in breach of the party's statute. 

 
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