Congress final candidate list: Thapa and Khadgi to contest for president, about 40 withdraw

Gagan Kumar Thapa and Shyam Krishna Khadgi will contest for the presidency of the Nepali Congress.

The Central Election Committee published the final list of candidates on the night of Asoj 21 after completing the process of reviewing claims and objections and candidacy withdrawals.

Bishwaprakash Sharma has been elected unopposed as senior vice-president, Pushpa Bhusal as women's vice-president, and Amita Pradhan Shakya as Kathmandu Valley women's Central Member.

Seven candidates are contesting the two open vice-president posts, while five are contesting the single inclusive vice-president post. The candidates for open vice-president are Govinda Bhattarai, Chandrakanta Bhandari, Chandramohan Yadav, Deepak Giri, Dhanraj Gurung, Madhu Acharya and Surendra Raj Pandey.

Among the three general secretary posts, eight candidates are contesting the two open seats. In the under-35 youth open group, there are 27 candidates.

According to party spokesperson Devraj Chalise, about 40 people have withdrawn their candidacies, including presidential candidate Kishor Singh Rathour, vice-presidential candidate Minendra Rijal, and Chalise himself.

Rathour withdrew his candidacy in support of Thapa. Khadgi said that although talks were held to reach a consensus, no conclusion was reached, so his candidacy remains in place.