Nembang ready for presidential position

KATHMANDU, Feb 28: CPN-UML leader Subash Nembang has said that he is ready to become the next President of Nepal if his party forwards his name for the position.

“If my party nominates me, I will thank the party and shoulder the responsibility as the president very happily,” said the former Speaker while taking to Rishi Dhamala at a radio program ‘Nepali Bahas’.

However, he clarified that he has not personally requested any member of the party to nominate him for the position.

“If Prime Minister K P Oli or CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ask me to become the president, I am ready. But, I have not personally requested anybody to recommend me for the position,” added Nembang. He furthered, “No candidate has been fixed yet.”

The election for president is scheduled for March 13. The President shall be elected by an electoral college composed of the members of the Federal Parliament and of the Province Assemblies. The ruling parties have agreed to elect president from UML and speaker from Maoist Center.

Speculations are that Prime Minister Oli is willing to nominate incumbent President Bidya Devi Bhandari, whose tenure is expiring, for the second term since she has served for the position only for two years. Article 63 (1) of constitution states that the term of office of the President shall be five years from the date on which he or she is so elected. Bhandari was elected as the first female and second president of Nepal in October 2015.

Meanwhile, a faction within UML have expressed strong reservation over repeating Bhandari for the second term and wants to field former chairman and former prime minister Jhala Nath Khanal.

Race for President: Bidya Devi Bhandari and Jhala Nath Khanal in fray. Who is next?