June 21, Kathmandu-The ward level convention for the 14th general convention of the Nepali Congress(NC) has begun. District leaders have started claiming their candidacies for various posts. So far, eight candidates have stated that they will run for the post of district chairman alone.

This number is said to be fluctuating. After NC Chitwan president Jit Narayan Shrestha said his candidature would be for a central member, vice president Kailash Koirala and secretary Uttam Joshi are in the race for president.

Former Member of Parliament and then Deputy Chief of Bharatpur Municipality Senior Advocate Jagannath Poudel, former District President of Nepal Students Association and Founder Registrar of Agriculture and Forest Sciences University Prof Dr. Suryakant Ghimire, and State Assembly Member Milan Babu Shrestha have stated their candidacies for the post.

Rajendra Burlakoti, general committee member of Chitwan Constituency No. 1, Rajeshwar Khanal of Constituency No. 2, and Bijay Bhushan of Constituency No. 3 are contesting for the post.

Some of them had been preparing to contest for the post of district president after the 13th general convention. Candidates from district president Shrestha ward to the center say that they have already started their election campaign. Candidates are still trying to get votes in their favor even in the case of Kovid after the date has been fixed between the two parties.

There are 27 thousand 855 active members in the district. Among them, 10,807 are new. As the old ones will be renewed till today, it is estimated that 30/40 more will be added.

Bharatpur Metropolitan City has the highest number of 15,658 active members. There are 4,401 active members in Ratnanagar municipality, 3,007 in Khairhani, 1,345 in Rapti, 1,678 in Kalika, 906 in Madi, and 860 in Ichchakamana. According to Chitwan, 17,100 of the 19,600 active members have been renewed in the previous convention.

Congress is holding a convention at the ward level on July 27. Ward committees and regional representatives will be selected from the wards. The Palika working committee and the regional representatives of the disabled will be elected from the Palika convention to be held on July 31.

The convention of the provincial committee of the region on July 31 will select the provincial working committee and the provincial general convention representative. The regional convention to be held on 4 August is selecting the regional working committee, general convention representative, and general committee members. The district convention to be held on July 10 will select the district working committee.