Kathmandu, March 8

Shashanka Koirala and Sita Devi Yadav were elected general secretary and treasurer of the Nepali Congress, respectively, in the party’s 13th National General Convention.

Both belong to Ramchandra Paudel-led panel.

Koirala defeated his closest rival, Arjun Narsingh KC, by 400 votes, while Yadav defeated her nearest rival Chitra Lekha Yadav by eight votes.

Koirala garnered 1,417 votes while KC of Sher Bahadur Deuba-led panel got 1,017 votes. The third contender, Gagan Thapa ,from Krishna Prasad Sitaula-led panel got 584 votes.

For the post of treasurer, Sita Devi Yadav got 1,217 votes, Chitra Lekha Yadav of Deuba panel got 1,209 votes, Umakanta Chaudhari of Sitaula panel got 457 votes and independent candidate Krishna Karki got 66 votes. Chitra Lekha Yadav was elected treasurer of the party in the 12th NGC.

Koirala, 58, is the youngest son of NC’s founding leader BP Koirala. He became NC’s Central Working Committee member in the 12th NGC of the party held in 2010. He was elected Constituent Assembly member twice in 2008 and 2013 from Nawalparasi under the-first-past-the-post system.

Sita Devi Yadav was elected to the House under the FPTP system from Siraha Constituency No 3. The then party president, Girija Prasad Koirala, nominated her as MP in the reinstated parliament in 2006.

She is the only woman district party president of the party and has been the president of Siraha for three terms. Her husband Chandra Narayan Yadav was killed by Maoists on 19 June 2000. She has joined the party’s CWC for the first time.

“My sole priority will be to maintain economic transparency in NC and unite the party,” she told THT.

Counting to elect CWC members under open competition for 25 members will be held from 10:00am on Tuesday, according to NC headquarters’ Secretary Prakash Sharma.

It will take three-four more days to complete the counting as it will be held only in day time, he said.

Deuba vows to settle boundary issues

KATHMANDU: Newly elected Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba on Tuesday said he would encompass all leaders of the party, including his rivals Ramchandra Paudel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula and unite the party in real sense.

Talking to reporters at his residence in Budhanilakantha this morning, Deuba said he would take initiative to settle the issues of boundaries of federal units and other national problems through consensus with the concerned parties.

“I will take the initiative to hold talks with Madhes-based parties and other parties to settle the issues including boundaries,” he told his supporters at his home.

Asked whether the Congress wanted change of guard at the centre, Deuba said, “Since the Congress is a democratic party, it will take official decision on it.

The issue has not been discussed in the party.”

Gen secy for political stability

KATHMANDU: Newly elected general secretary of Nepali Congress Shashanka Koirala said that establishing political stability and development of the country would be his two mantras during his tenure.

Talking to THT after his election, he said, “Working for political stability and development than making hollow political speeches would be my priority.”

Stating that there was a tendency among the victorious to get over-excited, he said, “I would work to avoid that and unite the party.”