NC votes to choose their president

Around 2,300 representatives on Sunday voted to elect the president of the Nepali Congress (NC) for the next four years, the results for which would be published tonight.

According to the Election Committee, the voting is expected to conclude by 7 p.m.

Contenders, Ram Chandra Poudel, who is the acting president of the NC, senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula have claimed to offer strong leadership in dealing with crises both inside the party and the country at large.

The voting began at 8.45 a.m. and was expected to conclude by 4 pm.

According to reports, around 1,200 voters were yet cast their votes by 5 p.m..

Election Committee member Gopal Krishna Ghimire said the counting of votes would begin today, no matter how long the voting takes place. Besides, the Committee was also preparing to hold the run-off poll at 10 a.m. on Monday, provided the candidates do not get over 50 percent votes.

According to the party's election law a candidate must get over 50 percent votes to secure the top post.