The fifth General convention of Nepali Congress affiliate Nepal Trade Union Congress Independent (re-christened as Nepal Trade Union Congress from now on) has concluded in Chitwan today, electing Khilanath Dahal, a Sher Bahadur Deuba loyalist to the top post of the organisation.

In the election, Deuba camp’s Khilanath Dahal defeated his rival Puskar Acharya, a supporter of party president Sushil Koirala, by 62 votes. Of the total 1,561 votes cast, Dahal got 787 votes. Though, most of the posts have been bagged by the Deuba camp, the post of senior vice-chairperson and general secretary has gone to the Koirala faction. 

According to chief election officer Yogendra Bahadur Adhikari, Ramji Kunwar and Mahendra Yadav have been elected vice-chairperson and general secretary respectively. Likewise, Ganesh Prasad Niraula and Ayodhya Prasad Yadav have been elected vice chairpersons under the open category, and Rama Poudel has landed the post under the women category. 

As per the election commission, six candidates had fought for two vice chairpersons’ posts under the open category and two female candidates had contested for a VC post under the women category. Similarly, Bam Bahadur DC has been voted vice-chairperson in the service sector, and Lalit Gurung and Kalpana Adhikari were voted to the post in the production sector and informal sector respectively.

Likewise, Aashasingh Rathor, Kedar Koirala and Sanjaya Mishra were elected under-general secretary in the open category; Lalitkala Gurung claimed the post under women’s category. Yogendra Kumar Kunwar and Janardan Niraula have won treasurer and co-treasurer. For the seven posts for female members 21 had contested, while for 15 posts under the open category 100 had thrown their hats into the ring. A total of 1,611 representatives from 71 districts participated in the convention, which also voted with majority to change the name of the organisation as Nepal Trade Union Congress.

Published on: 29 August 2013 | The Himalayan Times