KATHMANDU, Oct 8: The nomination process for the 15th General Convention of the Nepali Congress (NC) has concluded, setting the stage for a contest for the party’s key leadership positions.
Two leaders are in the race for party president: Gagan Kumar Thapa and Shyam Krishna Khadgi.
The contest for senior vice president has only one candidate, Bishwa Prakash Sharma, while Pushpa Bhusal is the sole candidate for women’s vice president.
NC leader Paudel announces candidacy for General Secretary
Nine leaders are vying for the open vice president posts: Dr Chandra Kanta Bhandari, Devraj Chalise, Surendra Raj Pandey, Madhu Acharya, Dr Minendra Rijal, Dipak Giri, Dhan Raj Gurung, Govinda Bhattarai and Dr Chandra Mohan Yadav.
Five candidates have filed nominations for the inclusive vice president posts: Binod Chaudhary, Farmullah Mansoor, Jeevan Pariyar, Ranjit Karna and Sita Gurung.
The open general secretary race has eight candidates: Pradip Paudel, Gururaj Ghimire, Udaya Shumsher Rana, Amar Singh Pun, Nain Singh Mahar, Shankar Tiwari, Dr Sunil Sharma and Dr Santosh Upadhyay.
Three women are contesting for women’s general secretary: Dila Sangraula, Rita Khanal and Mahalakshmi Upadhyay ‘Dina’.
For women’s joint general secretary, Nanumaya Bastola and Pratima Gautam are in the race. Ten candidates are contesting for the open joint general secretary posts.
The category-based joint general secretary contests have also drawn a number of candidates. Five are contesting under Indigenous Nationalities, four under Dalit, eight under Madhesi, three under Khas-Arya, three under Tharu, three under Muslim, seven under backward region, and four under minority or disability categories.
With the nomination process complete, the convention will now decide the party’s new leadership from among the candidates who have entered the race.
