KATHMANDU, March 20: The first general convention of the Nepali Congress (NC)-affiliated Democratic Handicapped Association is set to begin on March 21 (Friday).
The convention, scheduled for March 21-22 at the party’s central office in Sanepa, will see a tight race among three candidates for the presidency.
Around 1,000 representatives from all 77 districts will participate. Madhav Prasad Chamlagai, Prakash Pant, and Bikash Thapa have filed their candidacy for the top post. Incumbent president Prakash Pant, who is now a National Assembly member under the inclusive quota, is seeking re-election.
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Chamlagai, a central member of the association, is emerging as a strong contender. He has been actively advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities in policymaking. Since the constitution-drafting process, he has been vocal about ensuring political representation for persons with disabilities in the NC.
Similarly, another candidate, Bikash Thapa, is a former central member of the association. He has also been consistently working for the rights of persons with disabilities.
Chamlagai, who previously contested for a central member position in the 13th general convention of the NC, is considered the strongest contender for the presidency. His involvement spans Nepal Students Union, Nepal Press Union, and the Federation of Nepali Journalists, where he has championed disability rights.
He gained prominence in 2017 for his role in incorporating disability-related issues into Nepal’s constitution. Additionally, he successfully petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a law that restricted persons with disabilities from climbing Mount Everest and other peaks.
Currently serving as the coordinator of the general convention’s publicity committee, Chamlagai declared his candidacy six months ago.
According to the association’s statute, the central committee will have 51 members, including a president, two vice presidents (one female), two general secretaries, and 10 open category members, with three being women. There will also be 10 representatives with different types of disabilities and 14 representatives (both male and female) from all seven provinces. The remaining 12 members will be nominated to ensure female and inclusive representation.
NC President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is set to inaugurate the convention.
