PRAKASH MAN SINGH ELECTED NC GENERAL SECRETARY WITH THUMPING MAJORITY

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 21 Sept.: Prakash Man Singh was elected NC general secretary for a four-year term with a thumping majority of 1,656 votes collecting more ballots than Sushil Koirala who was declared president from the same panel Wednesday, party election officials said.
Singh defeated his nearest rival, Bimalendra Nidhi of the Deuba panel, gathering only 1.226 votes.
The Koirala panel captured the two most powerful positions in the party central committee.
Results have come as a serious blow for three-time Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba who claimed he was successor of party president Girija Prasad Koirala after a merger three years ago between the NC and the NC (D) led by Deuba.
Deuba lost the presidency to Sushil Koirala.
Vice-chairman Ram Chandra Paudel thrashed Deuba earlier in elections for leader of the party’s parliamentary party.
Singh defected to the Koirala camp during elections for parliamentary party leader this year.
The only consolation for Deuba was the election of Chitralekha Yadav as treasurer from his camp.
She got 1,559 votes while his rival Parshu Narayan Chandhary of the Koirala group got 1,420 votes.
Results indicate there is a split in the party between the two camps with the Koirala faction dominating the oldest party.
But final results of elections for central committee members expected Thursday will indicate the extent of the division.
Elections were held for president, secretary general and 61 central committee members Tuesday.
Counting of votes for 61 elected central committee members begins Thursday.
Koirala can strengthen his hold on the central committee by appointing remaining 21 members in the central committee.
Sujata, daughter of Girija, is an aspirant for vice-president.
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PRESIDENT ATTENDS INDRAJATRA FESTIVITIES

Kathmandu, 21 Sept.: President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Wednesday attended Indrajatra festivities at Hanuman Dhoka in the presence of senior government officials and foreign diplomats.
They witnessed the towing of the chariots of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairab from Gaddi Baitkah like past rulers.
The president went to Kumari Ghar to receive from the Kumari.
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