Kathmandu, March 2

Subas Nembang, the CPN- UML presidential candidate, reached the offices of various parties today canvassing for votes. His rival is Nepali Congress candidate Ramchandra Paudel, who is supported by the newly formed coalition of eight parties.

Nembang reached the office of Rastriya Swatantra Party in Basundhara this afternoon and held discussion with RSP leaders, including RSP President Rabi Lamichhane.

CPN-UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai said there was a strong possibility that the RSP could vote for Nembang.

Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Mukul Dhakal said that during the meeting, a UML representative asked the RSP president to help Nembang.

Dhakal informed that the party would decide after it holds internal discussion.

He said, 'The party is yet to decide. There is no doubt that Nembang is a suitable candidate for president, but the decision cannot be made today. We will put it in the meeting of the central committee and the parliamentary party, and the decision will be made there.'

Nembang, along with his party leaders, also visited Rastriya Prajatantra party office in Dhumbarahi to appeal for votes. He met Rajendra Lingden, the RPP president, and asked for his vote.

After the meeting, RPP leader Prakashchandra Lohani said the conversation was conducted cordially. He said the meeting of the central performance committee on 8 March would decide on who to vote for in the presidential election.

Today, Ramchandra Paudel, the Nepali Congress candidate for president, wrote a letter to the eight-party alliance asking for votes. In the letter, he mentioned, 'I have become a presidential candidate with the determination to create change by imbibing the letter and spirit of the constitution, which guarantees the rights of all religions, cultures, castes, classes, genders, and communities.'

Nepali Congress MP Pradeep Poudel claimed Paudel's victory was assured.

He said, 'Ramchandra Paudel has promised to maintain the dignity of the presidency and work as guardian of the constitution and keep the constitution intact. He has also promised to restore national self-respect. He is certain to win the election with majority votes.

'I believe the president's role as guardian of the country and protector of the constitution will overcome the shortcomings of the past and he will not interfere in work of the government or Parliament, said Pradeep Poudel.

Earlier, Nembang had gone to the CPN (Unified Socialist) office and asked for votes. However, the party told him it had already decided to vote for Nepali Congress candidate Ramchandra Paudel. The eight-party coalition had already decided to vote for Ramchandra Paudel.

NC candidate Paudel also met Resham Chaudhary, in Central Jail, Dillibazar, and asked him for vote. Chaudhary has clearly said that he and his party Nagarik Unmukti Party will not participate in the government until he is released.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 3, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.