KATHMANDU, Dec 7: Amid competing claims by leaders within the faction for the post of party president in the 14th General Convention set to begin Friday, the Ram Chandra Paudel-led faction within the Nepali Congress (NC) has started internal consultations to find a consensus candidate for party president.

A meeting is currently underway at the residence of NC leader Prakash Man Singh to pick a consensus candidate from the rival faction within the NC for the post of party president. Ram Chandra Poudel, Prakash Man Singh, Dr Shashank Koirala and Dr Shekhar Koirala are among the aspirants for the post of party president.

On Monday, Paudel had separately held a meeting with Singh, General Secretary Dr Shashank and Central Member Dr Shekhar to convince them to accept his candidacy for the post of party president. Sources said the meeting could not yield any result as all the leaders stood adamant on their stances to compete in the election.

However, the leaders earlier had agreed to find a consensus candidate for the party president within the next two days. Paudel has called a meeting of the central working committee members close to him for consultation. 

While Dr Shekhar has long been making exercises to file his candidacy for the party president, Singh has also opened a liaison office at Ramshahapath to solicit votes for him. General Secretary Dr Shashank has also been insisting that he is the only candidate from the rival faction who can possibly defeat Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Youth leaders close to the rival faction within the party have expressed concern over the failure of the top leaders to find consensus on the candidate for party president. Earlier on Tuesday, the leaders exerted pressure on the top leaders to find a consensus candidate as early as possible.

 
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