KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala has reiterated that withdrawing his name from the contest for the post of party President is not possible now as he has been under party cadres’ pressure not to withdraw it this time.

According to sources, on his Tuesday’s meeting with the party’s vice president Bimalendra Nidhi at the latter’s residence in Baneswor, Dr. Koirala replied Nidhi that he cannot withdraw the candidacy now.

Dr. Koirala and Nidhi both have announced they will be contesting for the post of party President in the forthcoming 14^th General Convention of the party.

Initiating the meeting at Nidhi’s residence in Baneshwor, vice president Nidhi had asked Dr. Koirala  to support him in the election to which Dr. Koirala replied promptly that helping Nidhi in the contest for the President was not possible.

“Immediately after the 13^th general convention, during the country wide tour, I announced that I would be contesting as President in the 14^th general convention,” Dr. Koirala said, requesting Nidhi to support him, “I have a lot of pressure from my party friends now. I request you to help me this time.”

Leader Koirala clarified that he would run for the post of President for one term only.

Dr. Koirala has been urging the leaders to help him after the general convention date has been fixed.

He met another aspirant for the post of party President Arjun Narsingh KC on Sunday.

Similarly, Koirala had met NC senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel to support him in the contest for President and proposed Poudel’s name for Prime Minister.

He had a secret meeting with leader Prakash Man Singh and youth leader Gagan Thapa on July 25.

Similarly, he is having continuous discussions with other influencing leaders like Guru Ghimire, Chandra Bhandari and Dilendra Prasad Badu.