KATHMANDU: The election for the chairperson of the 27th Central Working Committee of the Nepal Bar Association is being held today, with voting scheduled from 8 am to 4 pm across 36 polling stations in and outside Kathmandu.
The key competition is between Senior Advocate Professor Dr. Bijay Prasad Mishra, representing the broad democratic, progressive, professional, nationalistic, and inclusive legal practitioners group, and Senior Advocate Raman Kumar Shrestha, from the professional legal practitioners group.
In total, five candidates are vying for the top post, including independent candidates Advocate Raju Kaiti, Advocate Ujwal Ghimire, and Advocate Ashish Poudel.
Both Mishra and Shrestha have fielded full panels and presented their agendas publicly. Mishra’s panel includes Senior Advocate Kedar Prasad Koirala as general secretary, while Shrestha’s team features Advocate Yagya Mani Neupane for the same post.
Mishra’s group has pledged institutional, structural, and policy-level reforms to strengthen the Bar and enhance its role in upholding constitutional supremacy, the rule of law, judicial independence, and human rights.
The group has also vowed to promote opportunities for young and women legal practitioners, integrate artificial intelligence into legal practice, and turn the Bar into an academic and research-oriented institution.
On the other hand, Shrestha’s team has committed to institutional reforms, capacity building of legal professionals, and ensuring the dignity and professional rights of lawyers. Their vision includes establishing an accountable and corruption-free judiciary and enhancing legal practitioners’ proficiency in information technology.
According to Chief Election Officer Senior Advocate Ram Krishna Nirala, a total of 9,957 voters are eligible to cast their ballots.
Of them, nearly 6,000 are expected to vote at the Supreme Court premises in Kathmandu. Additionally, 57 candidates are contesting for 25 other positions in the new working committee.
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