Rathore withdraws candidacy for NC president

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) presidential candidate Kishor Singh Rathore has withdrawn his candidacy.

Rathore announced his decision by organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Wednesday afternoon.

“The party president sought my cooperation as the general convention is being held under special circumstances, and the party is in crisis,” Rathore said. “Therefore, I have withdrawn my candidacy for the greater unity of the party.”

Rathore had registered his candidacy just before the deadline for filing nominations on Tuesday evening.

He had earlier said that since the NC is a democratic party, it should not go into an election with any leader being elected unopposed. He had maintained that he would contest the election regardless of President Gagan Kumar Thapa’s popularity.

The withdrawal of candidacy by Rathore means only Shyam Krishna Khadki and Thapa are left in the race for party presidency.

The 15th General Convention of the NC, which is underway in Kathmandu, will elect a 297-member Central Working Committee with 25 office-bearers.