Will Gagan, Shekhar forge consensus on parliamentary party election?

KATHMANDU: Leaders of the anti-establishment faction of the Nepali Congress have begun talks to field a common candidate of the faction in the parliamentary party election of the party.

Sher Bahadur Deuba, who is eyeing his sixth prime ministerial stint, is almost certain to become the candidate of the establishment faction. Both General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa and Dr Shekhar Koirala are showing interest to contest the election from the anti-establishment faction. Realizing that it would be easier for Deuba if there are two candidates from the same faction, the two leaders have begun a discussion about fielding a common candidate.

Sources say Thapa is in no mood of withdrawing. “Regardless of the results, Thapa wants to contest the election at any cost,” a source close to Thapa told Himal Press.

Deuba is believed to command a majority in the 89-member parliamentary party of the Nepali Congress. This is why leaders say Thapa and Koirala should show unity to give a tough fight to Deuba in the parliamentary party election.

An NC leader said Thapa plans to win Koirala’s support by promising him the post of party president in the upcoming general convention of the party. “I will promote you as our candidate for the post of party president right after the parliamentary party election. But I solicit your support in the parliamentary party election,” Thapa told Koirala, according to the leader.

But Koirala doesn’t seem assured.

Thapa presented himself as the future prime minister during election campaigning. Therefore, he has no option but to contest the parliamentary party election regardless of the results.

Thapa presented himself as the future prime minister during election campaigning. Therefore, he has no option but to contest the parliamentary party election regardless of the results.

Koirala, on the other, contested against Deuba for the post of president in the party’s 14th general convention. Koirala, who is leading the party’s anti-establishment faction after the convention, also wants to be the leader of lawmakers close to the faction.

Thapa, who contested the election for the post of general secretary in the general convention from Koirala’s panel, is for leadership transfer to the younger generation.

NC is holding the election for the parliamentary party leader on Wednesday.