Former Nepal Students’ Union leaders dominate Nepali Congress leadership race

KATHMANDU: Leaders who began their political careers through the Nepali Congress’ student wing, Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), have reached key positions in the party’s leadership.

Gagan Kumar Thapa, a former general secretary and vice president of the NSU, is set to lead the party as president, while other former NSU presidents are competing for key positions.

According to the Election Committee of the Nepali Congress’ 15th General Convention, former NSU president Bishwo Prakash Sharma has been elected unopposed as senior vice president.

Another former NSU president, Kishor Singh Rathore, had registered his candidacy for party president but later withdrew from the race in support of Gagan Kumar Thapa.

Former NSU presidents Dhanraj Gurung, Govinda Bhattarai and Ranjit Karna are contesting for the post of vice president. Gurung and Bhattarai are contesting under the open category, while Karna is contesting under the inclusive category. Karna had led the NSU for a long period and oversaw the organisation’s long-delayed General Convention before handing over the leadership.

Karna, who emerged from student politics, is a contemporary of party president Thapa.

Former NSU presidents Gururaj Ghimire and Pradeep Paudel, along with leader Nain Singh Mahar, have registered their candidacies for general secretary, while former NSU president Rajiv Dhungana is contesting for joint general secretary.