NC Vice President and the party´s parliamentary leader Ram Chandra Poudel announced candidacies amidst a gathering of party cadres and media persons at the party headquarters, Sanepa. [break]
The announcement was delayed as Sujata Koirala, one of the aspirants for the post of general secretary, had been refusing to withdraw her candidacy till Sunday morning. NC leaders Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Arjun Narsingh KC, Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Sujata Koirala along with Singh had expressed their desire to field candidacy for the post. Another rival faction led by Sher Bahadur Deuba had announced its panel a week ago.
Sources said Sujata agreed to reverse her decision after Acting President Koirala reportedly assured her that he would nominate her for the post of party´s vice president.
As per the party´s statute, an elected president of the party can nominate vice president and one of the two general secretaries in the party´s office bearers´ body. However, elected members of the party must endorse the name floated by elected president in the central working committee.
Though the decision to pick general secretary candidate was said to have been taken on the basis of consensus among all aspirants, Arjun Narsingh KC could not be seen at the function. Sources said KC could not attend the meeting as he had a pre-scheduled program in Itahari. He had met Koirala before leaving for Itahari, Sunday morning.
Several leaders, including Chiranjeevi Wagle, Bal Bahadur KC and Dr Narayan Khadka, who were once close to Deuba, were also present at the function. However, Dip Kumar Upadhyaya, who was touted as the candidate for the post of treasurer from Koirala panel, was not seen at the function.
Speaking on the occasion, Koirala expressed commitment to strengthen the party and establish NC as the largest democratic party in the country. He also vowed to do away with all sorts of anomalies in the party.
Vice President Poudel said they were not in favor of announcing a panel as such but were forced to take the decision after Deuba faction announced its panel. Poudel had earlier announced to stay neutral in the general convention.
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