Damauli, February 7

Nepali Congress Vice-president Ramchandra Paudel today asked incumbent President Sushil Koirala and Senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba to support him in his bid to bag the party’s top post in the upcoming 13th General Convention.

“My candidacy for party president is sure. I am not going to back down at any cost. Thus, Koirala and Deuba should help me,” Paudel said.

Inaugurating Tanahun district’s 13th Convention in Damauli, Paudel held that he had lent support to Deuba and Koirala many times in the past. “This time around, they have to offer support to me,” Paudel added.

He stated that he was going to register candidacy for the party’s top job to end factionalism that has flourished in the party.

“To make NC a formidable party, I have to take the party’s reins, in addition to competing with rival parties,” he said.

He urged the party rank to elect the leadership on grounds of merit. He claimed that NC’s talks with UDMF had lead to the opening of the blockade.