KATHMANDU: Two top leaders — Nepali Congress’ Ram Chandra Poudel and CPN-UML Vice Chairman Subash Chandra Nemwang – are contesting the ceremonial post of the President on March 9.

Both Poudel and Nemwang – both former Speakers of the House of Representatives — registered their nominations at the Federal Parliament Secretariat on Saturday.

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Unified Samajwadi Party Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal, Maoist Center Senior Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Janata Samajwadi Party leader Ashok Rai and Janamat Party leader Abdul Khan proposed Poudel’s candidacy.

NC’s Poudel has the support of eight political parties, including NC, Maoist Center, Unified Samajwadi Party, Janata Samajwadi Party, Janamat Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Loktantrik Samajwadi and Rastriya Janamorcha.

After registering his candidacy, Poudel expressed his belief that even the CPN-UML would support him as the President.

Talking to journalists after registering his nomination, Poudel said, “I am hopeful of getting the support of CPN-UML as well.”

Meanwhile, on the other hand, UML Chairman KP Oli, leaders Prithvisubba Gurung, Gokarna Bista, Raghubir Mahaseth and Chabilal Bishwakarma proposed Nemwang’s candidacy.

Nemwang, too, hoped that he would become a consensus candidate as the President.

Poudel, who has the support of eight political parties, is in the words of Prime Minister Pushpa amal Dahal Prachanda a consensus candidate for the post of the President.

Meanwhile, no political party came in in support of UML candidate Nemwang.

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have not supported either candidate.

Paudel was born on October 14, 1944 in Mirlung of Tanahun, in a middle-class family and is currently living in Bohoratar, Kathmandu.

He is a graduate in Nepali Literature in Sanskrit.

Similarly, Nemwang was born on March 11, 1953 at Suntalabari of Ilam Municipality-7.

He joined politics from All Nepal National Free Student Union.

Nembang was elected as House of Representatives from Ilam-2 in 2056 BS as well as member of the Constituent Assembly from Ilam-2 in 2064 BS and 2070 BS.

Elected as the member of HoR from Ilam-2 in 2074 BS and 2079 BS, he was deputy-leader of the UML Parliamentary Party and Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee in 2056 BS.

Nemwang also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2063 BS, Speaker of Legislative Parliament in 2064 BS, the Speaker of Constituent Assembly in 2070 BS and Speaker of Legislative Parliament in 2072 BS.