Kathmandu, January 27

With the 22nd national convention of the CPN-UML-aligned student wing just a couple of weeks away, candidates vying for top posts of the All Nepal National Free Students Union have intensified their election campaigns.

Currently, general secretary Nabina Lama along with vice presidents Deepak Gautam and Ain Mahar are expected to contend for the union’s presidency.

The three-day convention is scheduled to begin from February 10 in Kathmandu. The contenders have been presenting themselves as followers of certain leaders in the party.

Nabina Lama, who was elected as vice president in the union’s 20th national convention, was later given the post of general secretary in the 21st national convention. She is learnt to be close to party chairperson and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Similarly, Gautam, another contender for ANNFSU president, is close to senior leaders Jhalanath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal.

All three contenders have expressed confidence that they would emerge victorious in the convention. Lama said as she already had a long experience within the party and her chances of winning are significant.

“I have already held the posts of vice president and general secretary within the organisation, therefore my fellows will trust me and cast their votes in my favour,” she said.

“My ultimate goal is to lead the organisation in a new way. I want to give a new height to the students’ movement and lead the campaign to improve the quality of education,” she added.

Mahar also stated that majority of student representatives in the organisation support him. He claimed that he would continuously fight for quality education and the rights of students.

Meanwhile, Gautam also claimed that he had support from members of various committees. He said, “I am the best candidate who can lead the union.”

According to the union, the convention will be attended by 1,800 representatives from across the country. The national convention will elect president, four vice presidents and a general secretary through open competition.

Similarly, four secretaries will be elected through open competition, while the remaining three would be nominated.

Apart from this, chiefs of three committees, 17-member standing committee and a 141-member central committee will be elected during the convention.

ANNFSU has formed a management committee under the coordination of vice president Gautam and other four sub-committees to make preparations for the national convention.