Kathmandu, February 20

Two factions of the Nepali Congress – panel led by senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and the establishment side – are preparing to announce the names of candidates for the position of office bearers within a week.

As the 13th National General Convention slated for March 3-6 is approaching nearer, both the factions have made claims and counter-claims about their strength.

The Deuba faction has claimed that it is ahead by 240 votes than the establishment side as of today’s calculation, while the establishment side claimed it has secured around 400 more delegates than that of the Deuba faction.

“Out of 2,484 NGC delegates from 207 constituencies, Deuba side has 1,258 and establishment side 1,018,while 178 delegates are neutral and 30 belong to Khum Bahadur Khadka. Although the results of remaining 33 constituencies are yet to be finalised, we are ahead than the establishment side,” said a senior leader close to Deuba.

A leader belonging to establishment side, however, said that their side has secured more than 400 delegates than that of the Deuba’s faction.

The establishment side has claimed that 80 per cent of district presidents have been elected from its side. However, the number of district presidents would not be a determining factor in the election for central leadership as each constituency elects 12 NGC delegates for the election of central leadership.

Although the establishment side has yet to finalise the candidate for the party president, most of its leaders are mulling over possible candidates for the office bearers’ positions. If the establishment side could forge consensus, it is likely to field Ramchandra Paudel for the post of party president, Prakash Man Singh for vice-president, Krishna Prasad Sitaula for general secretary(elected), Shashanka Koirala for general secretary (nominated) and one Madhesi member for the position of treasurer.

Singh and Sitaula, the two other aspirants for party president from the establishment side, are likely to be adjusted by promoting them, claimed insiders. Singh, who is an elected general secretary, is likely to be promoted to vice president and Sitaula, who is a nominated general secretary, is likely to be promoted as general secretary. Gagan Thapa from the faction is also preparing to file candidacy for general secretary. This faction is also mulling to appease other influential leaders, including Ram Sharan Mahat, Shekhar Koirala and Sujata Koirala, by offering them important positions in the parliamentary party or the government to be formed under the NC’s leadership in future.

Deuba faction is mulling to field Deuba as the candidate for party president and Bimalendra Nidhi or Khum Bahadur Khadka as vice-president. It is also undecided about the candidates for the posts of general secretaries.

This faction will try its best to bring Shashanka Koirala of the establishment side in its fold by offering him the candidacy for general secretary (elected).

This faction will likely pick one candidate from among Nidhi, Khum Bahadur Khadka and Purna Bahadur Khadka for the post of general secretary (nominated).

As the party is scheduled to hold its Central Working Committee meeting on February 23 to set the agendas of the NGC, both the factions will likely decide names of candidates of office bearers by 27 February.