Congress Gen Convention: Voting period extend till 9 PM

KATHMANDU: The voting period for the election of the executive committee of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) has been extended until 9 PM. 

The election committee, publishing a notice, extended the voting period by another four hours. 

According to the convention schedule, the voting for the new leadership including 13 office bearer positions was to be held only between 8AM and 5 PM, Monday. 

Due to technical issues, as cited by the election committee, the voting kicked off at 12PM. 

A total of 487 candidates are in the race for various 132 positions of the ruling party. Of 134 positions, voting is being conducted for 132 posts as Ananda Prasad Dhungana and Ramesh Rijal were elected as central members unopposed from Province 2 on Sunday. 

As many as 4,743 delegates are participating in the election being held at the City Hall and Bhrikuti Mandap-based polling centers. 

Delegates say that it takes at least half an hour for a voter to complete the voting process. 

Kalyan Gurung, Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakash Man Singh, Dr Shekhar Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba are vying for the party presidency. 

Seven other candidates are in the race for two vice-presidential positions. Purna Bahadur Khadka, Mahesh Acharya, Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Sujata Koirala, Dr Chandra Bhandari, Dhanraj Gurung and Divya Shree Pariyar are among the candidates for vice presidential positions. 

The NC delegates from all across the country will elect two vice presidents and general secretaries each. 

Similarly, Dr Minendra Rijal, Gagan Thapa, Bishwo Prakash Sharma, Prakash Sharan Mahat, Raja Ram Karki and Pradeep Poudel are all set to contest for two general secretarial positions. 

As many as twenty candidates filed their nominations for eight positions of joint secretaries-general.