Sujata withdraws, endorses Paudel
KATHMANDU, March 4: Nepali Congress (NC) senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has announced his candidacy for party president along with his panel on Thursday. Arjun Narsingh KC has been projected for party general secretary and Chitra Lekha Yadav for treasurer from the Deuba-led panel.
This is the third time Deuba has contested for party presidency. Earlier, he had lost election to Girija Prasad Koirala and Sushil Koirala respectively in the 11th and 12th NC general conventions.
Umesh Shrestha appointed as treasurer of NC
"I have decisive capacity and enthusiasm to lead the party. I will not let anyone quit the party if I get elected as party president," he told journalists after announcing his candidacy at Nepali Congress headquarters in Sanepa.
Earlier, Nepali Congress veteran leader Kul Bahadur Gurung had proposed Deuba as presidential candidate and Khum Bahadur Khadka had seconded the proposal. Other veteran leaders Man Bahadur BK, Chiranjivi Wagle, Govinda Raj Joshi and Laxman Ghimire among others had attended Deuba's candidacy announcement function.
KC, the candidate for general secretary, had secured second highest votes to become central committee member in the NC's previous general convention while Yadav, the candidate for treasurer, was the only candidate from Deuba faction to be elected to officer bearer's position during the previous general convention.
NC Acting President Ram Chandra Paudel and General Secretary Krishna Sitaula are already in the fray for party presidency. Paudel has included Sashanka Koirala as his candidate for general secretary but has yet to announce his candidate for treasurer. Likewike, Gagan Thapa is contesting for general secretary and Umakanta Chaudhari as treasurer from Sitaula's panel.
Meanwhile, Sujata Koirala, who had announced candidacy for president on Wednesday, has withdrawn her candidacy Thursday. Organizing a press meet at her residence Thursday morning she endorsed Paudel's candidature for party president.
