Heavyweights Switch Allegiance

With less than a year left for its 15th general convention, Nepali Congress (NC) is witnessing intense internal polarisation, making its battle for new leadership tough, complex and nail-biting. As president Sher Bahadur Deuba has kept mum about his successor, the multiple factional leaders within the establishment are competing with each other to secure his favour. For Deuba, it is like cracking a hard nut to balance many an ambitious stalwart of his camp. On the other hand, Dr Shekhar Koirala, who lost to Deuba in the 14th convention, has already thrown his hat in the ring, projecting him as the strong contender of the presidential post. He is reaching out to the party’s grassroots workers, heating up the tempo of internal election.