Kathmandu, March 2

On the eve of 13th National General Convention of Nepali Congress, two leaders of establishment side of the Nepali Congress Acting President Ramchandra Paudel and General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula announced their candidacy for the party leadership.

Paudel announced his candidacy at party headquarters in Sanepa and Sitaula at a party palace in Battisputali.

Paudel panel includes NC founding leader BP Koirala’s son Shashanka Koirala as general secretary, while Sitaula has named Gagan Thapa for general secretary’s post. Paudel’s team did not name anyone for treasurer, Sitaula’s panel has Umakanta Chaudhari as treasurer.

Paudel will pick from Padhma Narayan Chaudhari, Farmullha Mansur and Sita Devi Yadav for the post of treasurer, according to the party sources.

Senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba will hold a press conference at the party headquarters in Sanepa to announce his panel at 11:00am tomorrow , according to Deuba’s close aide Badri Sigdel.

The team will announce Gagan Thapa’s father-in-law Arjun Narsingh KC for general secretary, and Chitra Lekha Yadav or Pushpa Bhusal as treasurer, according to sources.

Sujata Koirala, meanwhile, held a press conference to announce her candidacy for the party president’s post, at her residence in Mandikatar this afternoon. Paudel, however, claimed that “she is likely to rethink her candidacy”.

Earlier, NC General Secretary Prakash Man Singh proposed the names of Paudel and Koirala for party president and treasury, respectively, and Ram Sharan Mahat seconded them.

Meanwhile, addressing a joint press conference at the party headquarters this morning, Paudel and Deuba said whosoever won the party’s top post would have to incorporate the loser.

Singh and Sitaula said able leadership was the need of the hour for the party to address the party’s internal and national challenges.

The NC’s jamboree will kick off in Khulla Munch at 1:00pm tomorrow. Top leaders of all political parties and foreign invitees will address the opening function to be inaugurated by Paudel.

Over 3,000 NGC representatives from all 75 districts have already reached Kathmandu to participate in the NGC. The closed session of the NGC will be held from March 4-6 in Bhrikutimandap.