Kathmandu, August 13:

Potential candidates for the 10th general convention of the Nepal Students’ Union(NSU) have been saying the meet aims to achieve the goal of full democracy and also that a president should be elected by consensus, but the convention is likely to be a platform of tough competition for the top post. As yet, five student leaders have announced their candidancy. They are former general secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa, vice-president Pradip Poudel, vice-president Mahendra Sharma, vice-president Badri Pandey and joint general secretary Tek Raj Pouel. Keshab Singh, sitting NSU president, is another potential candidate though he has not announced it yet. Selection of candidates in seven districts has also not been done yet. The 10th convention of NSU will be held on August 14-16 at Pokhara. Meanwhile, three other NSU leaders announced their candidacy for the presidentship in the convention.

Vice-presidents Badri Pandey and Mahendra Sharma, as well as joint general secretary Tek Raj Poudel today announced their candidacy for the post at a press conference organised by Guru Raj Ghimire, former NSU president. There are 11,00 voters. The theme of the convention is “Decisive students’ movement to end autocracy and violence, restoration of full democracy and educational advancement”. Pradip Poudel, NSU vice-president, who is running

for the presidency, said the convention aims at uprooting autocracy and complete democracy.

Former secretary Gagan Thapa has already announced his candidacy for the post from the prison and has stated he would contest from prison if he is not released by then. The NSU plans to appeal to the Nepali congress top drop all clauses relating to the monarchy from its statute and lean towards a democratic republican set-up. A report from Pokhara said the NSU 10th general convention would kick off there tomorrow. The NSU general convention will give the nod to different agenda in favour of democracy, according to Bashu Koirala, NSU joint-general secretary.