BHAKTAPUR: Nepali Congress (NC) Bhaktapur District Secretary Nishan Dhungel has expressed confidence that he will win the presidential election in Suryabinayak municipality convention.

Dhungel is contesting the elections for the post of president of Suryabinayak municipality under the 14th General Convention of the NC. The municipality convention is being held on September 25.

Talking to Khabarhub, leader Dhungel said all the regional representatives of Suryabinayak municipality have political cultures and have assured him of their support.

“All regional representatives of the Suryabinayak municipality have political cultures and ideals of NC. They have known about me very well and my work (that) I have performed in the past. They have assured me of their support. Hence, I am confident that they will vote for me in the election,” said Dhungel.

Straight-forward in nature and skilled in oratory, Dhungel said he would further consolidate the party and regain the lost glory of the NC in Suryabinayak municipality if he got elected as the president.

Dhungel’s candidacy has become the talk of the town in the political arena after popular youth leader of Bhaktapur announced his candidature for the post of president.

Other leaders contesting elections from the Dhungel panel include Ramesh Adhikari and Raman Kayastha vying for the post of vice presidents. Similarly, Suman Neupane and Bishwaram Thapa are contesting elections for the post of secretaries while Suresh KC and Amir Dhungana have been fielded as joint secretaries from the Dhungel panel.

Meanwhile, Nepal Tarun Dal, Bhaktapur has also expressed support for Dhungel after the latter announced his candidature for the post of president.

There are a total of 285 regional representatives elected through ward conventions who will cast votes to elect the leadership during the convention. Of the total 10 wards, Suryabinayak municipality-1 has 28 regional representatives, ward 2 has 38, ward 3 has 28, ward 4 has 27, ward 5 has 49, ward 6 has 29, ward no. 7 has 18, ward no 8 has 18, ward 9 has 18 and ward no 10 has 30 regional representatives.

The other panel vying for the leadership is led by Ravi Rana, the Vice President of Nepali Congress Suryabinayak municipality. Rana’s panel has fielded Dinesh Neupane and Mahesh KC as vice presidents, Upendra Timalsina and Laxman Thapa as secretaries and Rupak Neupane and Ram Gotame as joint secretaries.

Incumbent Secretary of NC Bhaktapur District Dhungel is considered close to NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba while Rana is close to Poudel faction of the Nepali Congress.

NC’s municipal and rural conventions are being held simultaneously across the country on September 25. Similarly, Provincial Assembly Regional Convention has been slated for September 28, district convention with only one constituency on October 1 and district convention having more than one constituency on October 4.

Likewise, the NC has decided to hold Province Convention on October 27-29 and the Central General Convention on November 25-29.