Nidhi not to align himself with Deuba in run-off

KATHMANDU: Bimalendra Nidhi, once a close confidant to Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba said that he would not align himself with Deuba in a run-off for the presidential position. 

Nidhi, who is one of the five candidates for the NC presidency, on Sunday, predicted that none of the candidates would secure more than 50 percent votes. 

As per the NC’s party statute, one needs to secure more than 50 percent of the total votes cast to be elected as the party’s president. If candidates fail to win the required number of votes, a run-off is held between the two top vote securers. 

“No candidate surpasses 50 percent votes during the first phase of the election. During the run-off, all the leaders except for those belonging to the establishment faction will stand together,” Nidhi said as he talked to the media on Sunday. 

Apart from Nidhi, incumbent President Deuba, former vice-president Prakash Man Singh, Dr Shekhar Koirala and Kalyan Gurung filed their candidacies for the position. Yuvraj Neupane, who filed nomination on Saturday, however, withdrew his candidacy on Sunday. He said that he would extend his support to Koirala. 

It is to be noted that Deuba was elected president in a run-off against his nearest rival Ram Chandra Poudel during the 13th General Convention. Deuba, Poudel and Krishna Prasad Situala were in the presidential race then.