Sujata Koirala withdraws candidacy, lends support to Ram Chandra Paudel for Nepali Congress president
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala has withdrawn her candidacy for the party's president and announced that she will lend her support to Ram Chandra Paudel in the elections for the top position.
Acting President of the party Ram Chandra Paudel and General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula announced their candidacies yesterday, while senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba is all set to make declare his candidacy along with a separate panel.
In presence of Paudel, Koirala organised a press conference at her residence this morning to make the announcement. She had formally announced her candidacy yesterday itself.
According to her, she was pulling back as per the belief of consensus, cooperation and unity in the party.
It is believed that the party establishment convinced her to withdraw the candidacy with an assurance to appoint her as a woman vice-president of the party through the amendment of party statute after the General Convention.
Also, it has been said that an understanding has been made between Paudel and Koirala to project her as the party's prime ministerial candidate.
Prior to the General Convention, the establishment side, led by Paudel, was preparing to table a proposal of increasing the office bearers, including a woman vice-president at the Central Working Committee . But the proposal could not be tabled due to stern opposition from senior leader Deuba, and General Secretaries Sitaula and Prakash Man Singh.
Earlier, Koirala publicly had said she will not withdraw from the election at any cost -- maintaining that her candidacy was not a bargaining chip.
Deuba is scheduled to hold a press conference at 11:00 am at the party's central office in Sanepa to announce his panel.
The 13th General Convention of the country's largest democratic party will kick off here in Kathmandu this afternoon to choose new leadership after five years.
Over 3,000 General Convention representatives from all 75 districts have already reached Kathmandu to take part in the party jamboree.
After the official inaugural of the jamboree at 1 pm in Khullamanch, the closed session will be held from March 4-6 at Bhrikutimandap.
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