KATHMANDU: The district presidents of the Poudel faction of the Nepali Congress (NC), who have been staging a relay hunger strike, are withdrawing their protest from today.

The district chairpersons have been on a relay hunger strike for last four days demanding that the list of active memberships be made public and that the ward conventions be held in all wards across the country on the scheduled date.

Talking to journalists following the meeting, Former General Secretary of the NC, Prakash Man Singh, informed that the relay hunger strike of the district presidents will be withdrawn starting today after President Sher Bahadur Deuba agreed to address the demand on Friday evening.

“As per the rules and regulations, the taskforce has agreed with the President to complete the remaining work of active membership as soon as possible and go to the general convention,” Singh said.

Stating that the election committee is working in consultation with the party leaders, Singh said and added that they are aware of the constitutional obligation of timely holding of the general convention.

“The general convention has to be held on time. Ward conventions have been scheduled for September 3 across the country,” said Singh.

Former General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Central Members Dr. Minendra Rijal and Ramesh Lekhak have been entrusted to end the hunger strikes of district presidents by addressing their demands.

Sitaula, Rijal and the Lekhak will reach the party office in Sanepa today afternoon and address the demands of the district presidents.

Senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel, former general secretary Singh, leader Dr Ramsharan Mahat, Central Members Bal Bahadur KC, Dr. Minendra Rijal, Dilendra Badu, Dr. Shekhar Koirala, Nuwakot district president Jagadishwar Narasimha KC, Dhading district president Ramesh Dhamala, Kathmandu district president Sabuj Bania and Bardiya president Sanjay Gautam are also present in the meeting.

Leaders and cadres of Dhanusha, Rautahat and Sarlahi have been staging a relay hunger strike at the NC central party office in Sanepa for the past 40 days.

Earlier, a meeting of the Poudel faction held on Friday morning decided to meet with Deuba to discuss active membership, district presidents’ hunger strike and convention. Leaders of the Poudel group had reached Baluwatar on Friday evening.

The NC’s Central Election Committee has made public the active membership list of 48 districts as of Friday.