Nepal Congress names Sushil Koirala for prime minister

Ending months of suspense and intra-party bickering Nepali Congress on Wednesday formally named party president Sushil Koirala, 73, as its candidate for the prime minister’s post, reports Utpal Parashar.

Updated on: Dec 6, 2012, 24:37:58 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Ending months of suspense and intra-party bickering Nepali Congress on Wednesday formally named party president Sushil Koirala, 73, as its candidate for the prime minister’s post.

The move which follows pressure from ruling Maoists and opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) is seen as another step to end the ongoing political and constitutional crisis.

Koirala’s name was forwarded by party vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel and seconded by senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba at a meeting of Nepali Congress office bearers. It was later endorsed by the party’s central working committee.

The decision is aimed at showcasing unity within the party which has been seeking leadership of the proposed national unity government---the formation of which is hoped to end the current impasse.

Both Poudel and Deuba had been gunning for the PM’s post which in turn exposed differences within Nepali Congress and hurt the party’s prospects of leading the unity government.

“Today’s decision is a fitting reply to all who talk of differences in our party. We hope following this, all parties will reach consensus within the next two days,” Poudel told mediapersons.

Nepal’s present logjam started in May with dissolution of the constituent assembly without promulgating a new constitution.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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