PM Dahal Hints at Withdrawing from CM Race If NC Agrees on Candidate

Prime Minister and CPN-Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has suggested that his party’s candidate may step back from the Koshi Chief Minister’s race if the Nepali Congress (NC) presents a mutually accepted candidate.

During a meeting in Baluwatar on Friday, Prachanda conveyed to NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma, and Dr. Minendra Rijal that the Maoist Center is willing to withdraw its candidate if the NC nominates a candidate agreeable to all.

Previously, Indra Angbo, the Maoist Center’s leader of the Province parliamentary party in Koshi, had staked a claim for the Chief Ministership. However, Kedar Karki, a member of the NC’s Shekhar Koirala faction, also submitted a claim with the support of CPN-UML, signaling a challenge from eight provincial lawmakers.

A meeting of Nepali Congress leaders is currently underway at President Deuba’s residence in Dhumbarahi to deliberate on the matter.

According to NC sources, despite Dr. Shekhar Koirala’s absence from the meeting, efforts are being made to reach a consensus on Karki’s nomination for the Koshi Chief Minister position. However, some leaders close to President Deuba remain uncertain about the future loyalty of UML-backed Karki.