26 Years Ago

Despite Herculean efforts, over the past week and more, to avoid an election for the presidency of the Nepali Congress at its ninth general convention, a contest is now inevitable for that important position between former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, information and Communication Ministry Chirinjeevi Wagle and former Minister Ram Hari Joshy. It is expected to be held today. While it is a foregone conclusion, say Congress insiders, that Koirala will win, there are some elements of uncertainty regarding what the margin of victory will be for Koirala, specially as voting is to be by secret ballot, say political watchers. Also, there is the residue of doubt regarding what will happen in the unlikely event that Koirala fails to obtain less than an outright majority of the votes of members of the NC convention. People’s Review, 9 May 1996.