KATHMANDU: Election for the post of President has begun at the Legislature-Parliament building in New Baneshwor on Wednesday. Ruling CPN-UML Vice-chairperson Bidya Devi Bhandari and main opposition party Nepali Congress veteran leader Kul Bahadur Gurung are in the fray for Head of the State. UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal proposed Bhandari’s name for the post of president while leaders of coalition parters Kamal Thapa, Yogendra Chaudhary, Dipak Bohora, CP Mainali, Prem Bahadur Singh, Jayadev Joshi, Chitra Bahadur KC, Shivalal Thapa, Biswendra Paswan, Laxman Rajbanshi, Eknath Dhakal and Meghraj Nepali seconded Bhandari’s candidacy. If elected, Bhandari will be the first female Head of State of Nepal. On the other hand, Nepali Congress leader Kul Bahadur Gurung was proposed by party General Secretary Prakash Man Singh and seconded by another General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula. The latest strength of the House is 597 seats. The candidate needs to accumulate at least 299 votes to get elected to the post of President. The secret voting that started at 11 am will conclude at 2 pm. The election result will be announced during a Parliament meeting at 5 pm today. READ ALSO Bhandari, Gurung in fray for second president of country