Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: CPN-UML is guaranteed the position of President as per the power-sharing understanding reached with seven parties of the ruling coalition. Six leaders from within the party have expressed interest in becoming the Head of State.
According to the agreement reached with the seven parties in the alliance, UML is set to get the positions of President and Speaker. UML and CPN (Maoist Center) have agreed to hold the position of Prime Minister and Speaker on a rotating basis (two and a half years each).”
Several leaders from within UML have expressed interest in becoming the next President, including Senior Vice Chairman Ishwar Pokharel, Vice Chairpersons Subash Nembang, Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Yubaraj Gyawali, as well as Amrit Kumar Bohora and Asta Laxmi Shakya.
Subash Nembang
Subas Nembang, a former Speaker and Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, is a strong contender for the presidency. He had expressed interest in the position even before the UML-Maoist coalition government was formed.
According to party sources, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has promised Nembang the presidency, although some party leaders suggest that Oli may appoint Nembang as Speaker of the House of Representatives instead. “The Speaker also has a role to maintain the balance between the opposition and the government,” the UML leader said, quoting: “For this, Nembang should be the Speaker rather than the President.”
Nembang has extensive experience as a Speaker having served one term in that position, as well as two terms as the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
Sources say Nembang is unlikely to settle for anything less than President.
Asta Laxmi Shakya
Asta Laxmi Shakya had previously expressed interest in becoming President after the 2017 election. However, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli chose to reappoint Bidya Devi Bhandari for the position instead, as Shakya had supported Madhav Kumar Nepal during the party’s general convention. With Bhandari unable to serve more than two terms, the party will need to select a new candidate for President. Shakya is reportedly still interested in the position
According to party sources, Shakya has not formally declared her intention to become President within the party. Shakya has stated that she will accept any decision made by the party and has denied seeking any specific position. Previously, Shakya had hoped to become Chief Minister of Bagmati Province after the 2017 election, but was passed over in favor of Dormani Poudel by Oli.
It has been reported that Oli had asked Shakya to run in the November 20 elections, but she declined, stating that new faces should be given the opportunity. According to sources, if Shakya is not chosen as President, the party may appoint her as Chief of a province instead.
Ishwar Pokharel
Ishwar Pokharel only entered the race for the presidency after the power-sharing agreement ensured that the position would go to UML. According to sources, current President Bidya Devi Bhandari favors Pokharel as her successor. Pokharel, as a senior leader in the UML, is reportedly a strong contender for the position.
Pokharel has served as UML’s general secretary twice in the past. He was defeated in the November 20 elections where he contested in the Kathmandu-5 constituency. According to UML leaders, Pokharel has since decided to pursue the presidency rather than continuing in parliamentary politics.
Amrit Kumar Bohora
Amrit Kumar Bohora has been involved in communist politics for a long time. He briefly served as the acting general secretary of the party after Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned following the party’s poor showing in the 2008 Constituent Assembly election. Bohora has been overshadowed by Oli’s rise within the party ranks and has not held a prominent position in recent years. Bohora is married to fellow presidential aspirant Asta Laxmi Shakya.
Yubaraj Gyawali
Gyawali was previously seen as being aligned with Madhav Kumar Nepal, but he demonstrated loyalty to UML by not joining Nepal when he formed CPN (Unified Socialist). Gyawali, who has held various positions within the party, has also expressed interest in becoming President, according to UML leaders.”
Ram Bahadur Thapa
Thapa comes from the Maoist party and served as the party’s Division Commander during the insurgency. He opted to remain with UML after the court ruled the unification of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) illegal. Thapa was defeated in the National Assembly election and has since been without a role in UML. According to sources, Thapa hopes to capi his political career by serving as President.
