HLPC to make last-ditch efforts for consensus on president & VP; Nepal likely to get woman president

Kathmandu / October 26: The meeting of ‘High-Level Political Coordination Committee’ comprising top leaders of the ruling parties has decided to make last-ditch efforts for forging consensus on the elections for the posts of President and Vice President. The elections have been scheduled for October 28.

The meeting that took place at the Prime Minister’s official residence Baluwatar agreed to remain effortful till the eleventh hour to garner support in the candidacies for President and Vice President on behalf of the parties.

The meeting coordinated by Committee coordinator and UCPN (Maoist) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal was held in the presence of Prime Minister and UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, according to Prime Minister’s press advisor Pramod Dahal. There is also a possibility for an agreement on the candidacies for the posts proposed by other political parties, he added.

Eleven senior leaders of various parties of the ruling coalition are in the committee. The Committee discussed the Indian government’s unannounced blockade and the crisis of fuel shortage.

The concerned parties have already decided on CPN (UML) Vice Chairman Bidhya Devi Bhandari as the presidential candidate and UCPN (Maoist) leader Nanda Kishor Pun as the candidate for the Vice President.

Main opposition party Nepali Congress has also decided on filing candidacy for the two posts but is yet to announce their names.

PM Oli and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Dahal had held a separate meeting over the issue of election of the President and Vice President prior to the committee meeting. As the ruling coalition has clear majority in the house, it is likely that Bhandari will win the election and Nepal is getting first woman President. Recently for the first time in the history Nepal got woman speaker from UCPN-Maoist party. RSS