Nirmala Sharma Elected FNJ Chair, Marking a Historic First for Female Leadership in Nepal’s Journalist Body

Nirmala Sharma has made history by being elected the first female Chair of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), the umbrella body for journalists in Nepal. Her election marks a significant milestone in the organization’s history, which has previously been led by male figures.

Sharma emerged victorious in the election after securing 4,282 votes, surpassing her closest competitor, Ramesh Bista, who received 3,203 votes. Devi Prasad Sapkota and Lal Singh Lama, the other candidates for the chair position, garnered 270 and 96 votes respectively.

The elections, held on Friday, December 13, also saw other key positions filled. Deepak Acharya was elected as the Senior Vice Chair, receiving 4,230 votes against Roshan Puri’s 2,886. For the position of Woman Vice Chair, Nitu Pundit won with 4,705 votes, while her rival Gangal Baral earned 2,644 votes.

Umid Bagchand secured the position of Vice Chair (Inclusive) with 4,292 votes, defeating Susbhash Prasad Sah, who received 2,080 votes. Ram Prasad Dahal was elected General Secretary with 4,084 votes, while his closest rival, Lekhnath Neupane, earned 1,929 votes. Ramesh Khatiwada was elected Secretary from the open category with 3,400 votes.

Other newly elected office-bearers include Soni Sharma as Secretary for Women, Sabin Priyasan as Secretary for Indigenous Nationalities, Ashok Kumar Tiwari as Secretary for Madheshi, Prakash Dhaulakoti as Secretary for Dalit, and Baikuntha Raj Parajuli as Secretary for Associate members. Ramkrishna Adhikari was elected as Treasurer with 3,847 votes.

The FNJ central committee also saw the election of members from various provinces. Kamal Rimal, Shankar Kharel, Raju Bishwakarma, and Rajesh Kumar Karna were elected from the Koshi and Madhesh provinces. Nawaraj Pathik and Narayan Prasad Adhikari will represent Bagmati Province, while Krishna KC and KB Rana represent Gandaki Province. Ramraj Pokhrel and Bikash Banjade are the newly elected members from Lumbini Province, and Tularam Pandey and Nagendra Prasad Upadhya will represent Karnali Province.

Additionally, several central members were elected from various social groups. Ruby Kumari Rauniyar (Madhesi Woman), Mala Palungawa (Indigenous Nationalities), Leela Shah Yogi (Khas Arya Woman), and Rita Budhathoki (Dalit Woman—unopposed) are among the newly elected members.

The elections, which saw voting across three levels of leadership, concluded with a strong representation of diverse groups, ensuring broader inclusivity within the organization. KC Lamichhane was elected as the FNJ Public Committee Coordinator, with Keshab Prasad Bohora and Rukmini Pokhrel joining as members of the committee.

The successful election process of the Federation of Nepali Journalists signifies a new chapter for the body, with Nirmala Sharma’s leadership bringing fresh hope and perspective to Nepal’s journalist community.