KATHMANDU, Oct 12: The three contenders eying for the chairmanship of Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) have announced that they are still on the race and no one has been approved as a unanimous candidate for the post. [break]
Speaking at a press conference organized by Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON) on the eve of the three-day NRNA convention, the candidates, however, said that efforts were still on to reach consensus on the next chief of the umbrella organization of over 2.5 million Nepalis residing in 55 countries across the globe.
"Initiation to forge a consensus among the contenders has begun as per the request of NRN friends to avoid elections. However, we have not reached to any breakthrough in this regard so far," said Ram Pratap Thapa, one of three contenders for presidency.
A nine-member panel headed by incumbent chairman Upendra Mahato has been formed to seek consensus for the top NRNA post. "I am ready to agree on what the committee would decide," added Thapa, who is also the present vice president of NRNA.
Dev Man Hirachan, another contender for the post, also clarified that they are yet to reach a consensus over who should be the next chairman of the association.
"We are waiting for the decision of the Mahato-led committee to propose any one of us as the next chairman. However, that would not be mandatory for all to accept," stated Hirachan, who is also the vice president of NRNA. If NRNs refused to agree with the committee´s proposal, the association would hold elections to select its next chieftain.
Bhim Udas, the third contender, also stated that he is strongly in favor of selecting the chairman unanimously. But if that did not happen, he said, he could also file his candidacy for the post.
Thapa, Hirachan and Udas were responding to the queries fielded by mediapersons after the differences over the candidacy came to the fore.
Earlier, dispute had surfaced among the top echelons of the association after various media reported Thapa of being selected as unanimous candidate for the post. Thapa, talking to myrepublica.com, also claimed that two other contenders had withdrawn their candidacy, expressing their support to him for the post.
However, Hirachan expressed serious concern over the claim and said it was not true. Udas, on the other hand, partially agreed with Thapa´s claim. "We had reached an understanding to withdraw our candidacy for Thapa. But that did not mean no one should challenge him in the elections," said Udas.
Thapa is based in Germany, Udas is World Food Program (WFP) country director in Lesotho in Africa and Hirachan runs a business in Japan. The three-day NRNA convention is set to kick off in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
prabhakar@myrepublica.com
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