KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) cadres have staged a demonstration in Chaksibari, Thamel, Tuesday, demanding that party leaders field a common candidate in the 14th General Convention to represent the non-establishment faction of the party.
The demonstration was held as NC presidency aspirants — senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel, General Secretary Dr. Shashank Koirala, former General Secretary Prakash Man Singh and Central member Dr. Shekhar Koirala, among other leaders — are holding discussion on finalizing a common candidate for the post of NC President.
NC cadres demonstrated today outside the leaders’ meeting venue — former General Secretary Singh’s residence in Chaksibari, to pile pressure on their leaders to reach an agreement on common candidate at the earliest.
They carried several placards that called for consensus among the leaders to back a common candidate.
The four influential leaders of the non-establishment (senior leader Poudel) faction of the NC have been advocating fielding one candidate from among them to increase chances against candidates of the establishment faction. The leaders have been holding back-to-back meetings for the same. However, reaching consensus among them seems to be a daunting task as none of the aspirants are ready to back others’ candidacy, except their own.
With three days to go before the central general convention is held, the Poudel faction is still undecisive. Nevertheless, they have said they would sort out issues and announce a common candidate before the central general convention.
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