Kathmandu, October 16
The Nepali Congress has completed the vote counting for its 15th general convention, announcing the election of 231 members to its central committee.
The convention began in Kathmandu on October 4, while vote counting started on October 9. Results for all 231 elected positions were announced after seven days of counting.
Under the party’s revised statute, the central committee will comprise 297 members, including 231 elected members and 66 nominated by party president Gagan Thapa.
The revised statute has increased the number of office-bearers and central committee members and introduced an inclusion-based selection system, including for the positions of vice-president and general secretary.
Bishwa Prakash Sharma was elected senior vice-president unopposed, while Pushpa Bhusal was elected women’s vice-president unopposed. Chandra Bhandari and Madhu Acharya won the open vice-president positions, while Binod Chaudhary was elected inclusive vice-president.
Pradip Paudel and Uday Shumsher Rana were elected general secretaries under the open category, while Dr Dila Sangraula was elected women’s general secretary.
Thapa received the highest number of votes, securing 6,584 out of 7,039 votes cast, or 93.88 per cent. Bhandari received the highest votes among vice-presidents, with 3,735, while Paudel topped the general secretary candidates with 4,194 votes.
The revised statute also provides for 21 central committee members below the age of 35, seven representing professional and sectoral groups, and seven from the party’s overseas liaison committees.
