Kathmandu, May 4

All  Nepal Football Association Senior Vice-president Mani Kunwar, who is  one of the two candidates for the post of president, today said he would not take part in  the ANFA congress and elections slated for Saturday.

Kunwar, who  claimed that the announcement of congress date by the  election committee was against the ANFA statute, said he would not take part in the ‘illegal process’ despite Kathmandu district court paving the way on Thursday.

Kanchanpur District  Football Association President Ganesh Bahadur Chand, who is also the  vice-president candidate from Mani Kunwar panel, had on Wednesday moved  the court demanding the postponement of the ANFA congress and elections.

But the single bench of justice Ramesh Raj  Pokharel denied the interim order as demanded by the petitioner and said the election committee could resume the process which was stopped due to Patan High Court order.

“I  respect court’s decision but I won’t take part in congress. I was the convenor of statute amendment committee and I cannot go against the statute as it is against my  moral,” said Kunwar.

As Kunwar’s candidacy cannot be withdrawn, the election process would go as per the schedules and the representatives can vote to any one. But Kunwar said he would not accept the position of president even if he wins the elections.

Meanwhile,  Kanchanpur FA’s President Chand, who moved to court against the  election process, said he would also not take part in Saturday’s  programmes. “As a writ petitioner and the case yet to be finalised, I will not take part in the elections process,” he said.

The congress and elections were originally scheduled for  March 28 but the election committee postponed the congress after Patan High  Court issued an interim order reacting to the writ petition filed by  Bhaktapur and Makawanpur FAs.

The election committee announced the new date after the court vacated the order and elections were held in the two FAs.

Election committee chief Kumar KC said the election would go as per the schedule. “We have already announced the final list of the candidates and the Kunwar’s decision cannot be considered as no one has withdrew during the time set for the same,” said KC. “We will go as per the plan and count votes before declaring the winners,” KC added.

Asked about the chances of elections being disturbed, KC said: “We have to stop the process if we get court order or if there is less than 50 per cent attendance. And I don’t think that will happen now.”