A leader of the faction told Himal Press that the meeting has started discussions on seat-sharing among coalition partners and candidates contesting the election from NC.
Dr Shekhar Koirala, NC Vice President Dhan Raj Gurung, General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa, joint secretaries Jivan Pariyar and Badri Pandey, and central committee members Arjun Narsingh KC and Bal Bahadur KC, among others, are attending the meeting organized at Dr Koirala’s office in Baluwatar.
Dr Koirala and General Secretary Thapa had previously met NC President Deuba and claimed and made a claim for four out of 10 seats. However, Deuba informed the duo that the faction could be given only three seats.
Deuba had postponed NC’s central work performance meeting scheduled for Sunday to hold discussions with the Shekhar-Gagan camp to finalize candidates for the National Assembly election.
The anti-establishment faction has been stating that candidates, who lost in the election for the House of Representatives held in November last year, shouldn’t be fielded in the National Assembly election.
Twenty seats, including one appointed by the President, in the National Assembly are becoming vacant on March 4. The ruling coalition is fielding common candidates in the 19 seats in the election to be held on January 25. The four parties of the coalition have shared 19 seats among them. NC will field its candidates in 10 seats.
Himal Press 
