Bhandari files candidacy for Presidential election

KATHMANDU, March 7: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has filed her candidacy for the election of President. Bhandari filed her nomination at liaison office of the Election Commission located at International Conference Center, New Baneshwor, at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, according to President’s Chief Secretary Bhesh Raj Adhikari.

Bhandari’s candidacy is proposed by former Prime Minister and UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, Vice-chair Bhim Rawal, General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel, former Speaker Subash Nembang and former Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar and seconded by Maoist Center leader Ram Bahadur Thapa, UML’s Bishnu Poudel, Gokarna Bista, Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal and Rabindra Adhikari.

Earlier, a meeting of the CPN-UML Party Standing Committee, which took place late until Tuesday night, had decided to field incumbent President Bhandari as its presidential candidate.

Prior to the meeting, party chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had held consultations with party senior leaders Jhalanath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal in this connection. Khanal’s was also considered as the UML’s probable candidate for the post of President. Although there was debate within the UML whether to field Bhandari as the Presidential candidate again or to give candidacy of a new face on behalf the party, the standing committee ultimately decided in Bhandari’s favor.

RAI REGISTERS CANDIDACY 

Meanwhile, Presidential candidate from Nepali Congress Laxmi Kumari Rai has also registered her candidacy. Earlier, a meeting of the Central Executive Committee of NC decided to field Rai as the candidate for the post of President. Rai’s candidacy is proposed by Chitra Lekha Yadav, Man Bahadur Bishwokarma, Parbati BC Chaudhary, Devendra Raj Kandel, Surendra Raj Pandey and seconded by Mekh Lal Shrestha, Sarita Prasai, Shiva Chandra Chaudhary, Sujata Pariyar and Radha Ghale.

The nomination, which started at 10:00 am, will take place until 2:00 pm in the afternoon.

Bhandari has the support from the left alliance, UML and Maoist Center, who command majority in both upper house and lower house of the parliament, and is likely to be reelected as the President. Incumbent President Bhandari will resign after a new one is elected.

The election for the President is scheduled for March 13.