Deuba faction accuses President Yadav of lobbying for Koirala

Nepali Congress (NC) leaders close to Sher Bahadur Deuba have accused President Ram Baran Yadav of proactively lobbying in favour of Sushil Koirala and his panel during the recently concluded general convention, Nagarik daily reported.

The President used to meet many general convention representatives from mid and eastern Terai districts at his residence in Shital Niwas everyday and ask them to vote for Koirala, said a contestant for Central Working Committee member.

Senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba (File photo)

Leaders supporting Deuba say, the election results went in favour of Koirala and Prakash Man Singh largely due to the active lobbying of the President.

NC district president of Dhanusha Ram Saroj Yadav accused the President of interfering directly right from the constitutency level elections. The general convention representatives are elected from constituency level elections.

"He called the general convention representatives at his residence and asked them to vote for Koirala," said Yadav. "He did the same in the district and constituency level conventions."

Reports say, contestant for the post of general secretary from Deuba panel, Bimalendra Nidhi does not have a good relation with President Yadav.

NC leaders of Dhanusha were miffed with President Yadav when he interfered and proposed his son as a candidate for the post of Constituent Assembly (CA) member in the by-election.

"I had gone to Shital Niwas with general convention representatives from Japan," said Narottam Baidhya, an NC leader from Kathmandu. "After listening the conversation there, I advised the President to stay away from party politics."

I heard that the President had asked to vote for Koirala to others, but he just said vote for a good candidate to me, said Rautahat NC president Shreekrishna Yadav.

Sources say, the President used to meet about 150 to 200 representatives everyday.

President Yadav was staying away from party politics since he got elected as President. He was active in NC politics and had also become a general secretary.nepalnews.com