KATHMANDU: One Nirmal Bhattarai has come to the fore, announcing his candidacy for the chairmanship of Naya Shakti Nepal and challenging the former Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai, who took up leadership to form the new party, for the party's new leadership.

As per the party statute, the Naya Shakti Nepal would have to choose its new chairman through elections within a year.

Nirmal Bhattarai organised a press conference in Bhaktapur today to announce his candidacy for the top post of the party.

Baburam Bhattarai is the coordinator of the party, which was formally announced with a mass swearing-in of thousands of party members in Kathmandu on June 12.