The leadership of the UML district committee will be selected through the election process.
Though the leaders said that efforts were being made to reach a consensus, leaders of different groups have registered their candidacies separately. There is a schedule for nominations and elections today.
Although three people initially claimed the post of chairperson, two have done so by the time of registration of candidature. Leader Sitaram Gurung and current secretary Shankar Katuwal have registered their candidacies. As it is not allowed to form a panel in the party’s
constitution, all the posts are grouped, even if they are called individual. It is said that it will take time for the final list to come as the nomination process is going on.
Gurung and Katuwal have registered their candidacies for the post of chairperson after
Harkabol Rai, a member of the Constituent Assembly and a candidate for the post of vice-
chairperson, agreed to nominate them. Another vice-president is Ranjit Dhamala from
Katuwal’s side.
Leaders in favor of Gurung are Yagya Raj Sunuwar, Kishor Adhikari and current chairman Mohan Shrestha. Katuwal’s supporters are Ambir Gurung, Nani Babu Budhathoki and Bal Krishna Dhungel. Advocates Tirtha Raj Subedi and Kamal Neupane, who had earlier been the head of the publicity department, are vying for the post of secretary. Incumbent Deputy Secretaries Maniraj Rai, Keshav Dhungel, Ashok Thapa, Sanju Shrestha and Bhakta Bahadur Karki have registered their candidacies for the post. Leaders say that Subedi has the support of Adhikari and Sunuwar and Neupane has the support of Ambir and Bal krishna.
Keshav Dhungel and Ashok Thapa are the Deputy Secretaries. Dhungel Bal Krishna and Thapa Ambir are the quota candidates. Among other candidates, Rai is close to MP Sunuwar while others are not clear. There are also many aspirants for member positions. Although most of the reservation quotas are agreed upon, elections are likely to be held in other posts.
The Oli faction has disintegrated after the UML leaders formed an alliance with the state MP
Ambir Gurung at the UML convention. By agreeing on 10 points, the leaders who are in favor of UML unity and the old leaders of Oli group are standing together in all the districts. Activists have responded that this group can be considered political.
Both candidates for the presidency are leaders of the Oli faction in favor of dissolving
parliament. Leaders and cadres say that Gurung became stronger when the 10 leaders
supported him after the two leaders became claimants. Leaders with 1-0 points have not been given chairperson and secretary. Harkabol Rai, the claimant of the chairmanship, has been given the vice-chairmanship. He is a supporter of 10 points.
By Muna Chand
