The third faction led by Krishna Prasad Sitaula, which emerged during the party's general convention held last month, has decided not to contest the election for PP leader.While the two major factions -- one led by Deuba and the other by Puadel -- contest the post of parliamentary party leader, support from the Sitaula-led group is likely to render the newly-elected party president better poised to bag another key post. The position of PP leader holds special importance as the NC's party statute allows only the PP leader to become the candidate from the party for prime minister.
Sitaula earlier this week convened a gathering of lawmakers loyal to him to discuss their support for the parliamentary party leader. "The meeting decided to openly support Deuba in the PP leader election as most of the lawmakers opined that only his win would give the party a clear sense of direction," NC lawmaker Ganesh Prasad Bimali, who was at the meeting, told Republica.
Sitaula took the decision as a majority of lawmakers from his group asked him not to contest the post himself.
NC youth leader Gagan Thapa, who had run for party general secretary from Sitaula's panel at the general convention, said however that they are yet to reach any decision. "We are yet to take a clear decision about this as diverse opinions surfaced during the meeting convened by Sitaula. We will take a decision once Sitaula returns from his home in Jhapa," said Thapa.
Leaders close to Sitaula claimed that their support for any candidate is going to be decisive as Deuba and Paudel are going neck and neck in the race.
Party leaders said some 15 lawmakers had attended the meeting called by Sitaula. However, lawmaker Bimali claimed that the number of those loyal to their group was greater than the number present at the meeting as some of the lawmakers couldn't show up for various reasons. Lawmakers Bimali, Sudheer Siwakoti, Bhimsen Das Pradhan, Rita Shahi, Taraman Gurung, Amrit Lal Rajbamsi and Usha Gurung among others had attended the gathering called by Sitaula.
The late NC president Sushil Koirala won the PP leadership election against Deuba with a plurality of only 16 votes in the last election held in 2014. NC senior leader Paudel, whom Deuba defeated in the election for party president, is likely to contest against Deuba for PP leader.
Also, some eight lawmakers were added to the Koirala faction, now led Paudel following Koirala's demise, after then PP leader and prime minister Koirala nominated them as lawmakers from the NC quota under the 26 seats that are directly nominated through a cabinet decision.
Leaders, however, still don't find Paudel's position strong without support from Sitaula as at least a dozen lawmakers from Paudel's panel joined the Deuba camp during the general convention. And the entire group led by Sitaula was a splinter from the faction now led by Paudel.
Leader Minendra Rijal, who is close to Paudel, said they are yet to finalize a candidate for PP leader. Prakash Man Singh and Ram Saran Mahat are also staking their claims for the post, said one leader.
Lawmaker Prakash Saran Mahat, who is close to Deuba, claimed that the latest scenario has made it very favorable for Deuba to win the post. "With the latest developments, we are expecting support not only from Sitaula but also from lawmakers now loyal to Paudel," he said.
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