KATHMANDU, AUGUST 24

Nepal's only alpine club, the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), has elected tourism entrepreneur Phurba Gyalje Sherpa as its new President, with his panel winning the majority of key posts in the election.

Sherpa defeated his rival, Kul Bahadur Gurung, by a margin of 54 votes in the presidential contest, which was fought between two panels. While Gurung's side managed to secure the First Vice-President position, almost all other office bearers and central committee members were elected from Sherpa's group.

According to the final vote count, Sherpa received 342 votes against Gurung's 288.

Ishwori Paudel from Sherpa's panel was elected Senior Vice-President with 345 votes, defeating Tika Gurung, while Mingma Gyabu Sherpa was chosen First Vice-President with 359 votes against Kaji Sherpa's 256. The Second Vice-President position went to Bodhraj Bhandari, who polled 368 votes, while his rival Dhan Bahadur Gurung received 238.

Rajendra Bahadur Lama secured the post of General Secretary with 318 votes, ahead of Bimal Naharki with 209 and Shiva Sapkota with 68.

Similarly, Chandan Thapa was elected Secretary with 358 votes, defeating Ngima Diki Sherpa who garnered 244.

The Treasurer's post ended in a rare tie, with Ngima Nurbu Sherpa and Sumi Lama both receiving 304 votes. As per mutual agreement and lottery system, the two will share the tenure equally.

The central committee members elected from Sherpa's panel include Madhav Kumar Dhamala, Kedar Neupane, Thupden Sherpa, Gokul Thapa, Mulal Gurung, Dendi Sherpa, Bikram Karki, Rinje Sherpa, Devendra Dangol, Diki Sherpa, and Nisha Bhote.

Phur Gelje Sherpa, the new president, is a veteran of Nepal's tourism sector with more than three decades of experience. Originally from Sindhupalchowk, he is the Managing Director of Himalayan Edge Adventure and holds a postgraduate degree in tourism. He is also the founder and current president of the Himalayan Tourism Development Society and has previously served as NMA's vice president. In his campaign, Sherpa pledged to focus on three key areas-developing infrastructure for mountaineering and trekking, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and ensuring sustainable tourism practices. He expressed confidence that his long experience in leadership roles and industry knowledge have prepared him to lead NMA effectively.

Sherpa's close ally and newly elected Senior Vice-President, Ishwori Paudel, also brings significant experience to the new leadership team. The Managing Director of Himalayan Guides Nepal Treks and Expedition, Paudel has over 25 years in the tourism industry and holds a master's degree in the field. He has served in various leadership roles, including as president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association and the Expedition Operator's Association, and as secretary of the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal. Paudel has actively promoted Nepal's tourism internationally, visiting countries across the Asia-Pacific region, and has pledged to further enhance Nepal's global image as a premier mountaineering destination.