KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 22As the date for filing nomination papers for presidential poll nears, political parties have intensified talks to explore the possibility of eliciting support for their candidates. EC yet to decide presidential poll dates Infant's parents seek support for his heart treatment Not only did leaders of parties comprising the ruling alliance, but even those of the main opposition party, the Nepali Congress, are eyeing the post of the president that falls vacant next month. It was in this context that Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal this evening, along with other leaders of the NC.According to NC Vice-president Purna Bahadur Khadka, Deuba told Dahal that the NC had decided almost two months ago to contest presidential poll and since the NC was the largest party in the House of Representatives, it was natural for it to claim the post of president.

NC leaders Ramchandra Paudel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula are keen to get the post.

Khadka, however, ruled out the possibility of Deuba contesting the post.Earlier, CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli also met the PM and suggested that either the Chair of CPN (Unified Socialist) Madhav Kumar Nepal or UML leader Subas Chandra Nembang be elected the president.A source close to the PM said the PM did not agree to Oli's proposal.

The PM has been saying that there is a need for electing a new president who could abide by the constitution and stay neutral without favouring any political party.Nepal, who has also shown keenness for the post after Oli floated his name, met Deuba to garner his support for his candidacy.

CPN (US) leader Ghana Shyam Bhusal, who accompanied Nepal in the meeting with Deuba, said they told Deuba the NC should support a candidate who would abide by and protect the constitution and care about democratic values and norms.

Asked if Oli had offered to support Nepal for president, Bhusal replied in the negative.

NC and CPN (US) leaders will meet tomorrow again to discuss presidential election.Loktantrik Samajbadi Party-Nepal leaders, including Sharat Singh Bhandari, also met Deuba and urged him to support LSP-N Chair Mahantha Thakur for the post of president.Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal Chair Upendra Yadav met Deuba and sought his support for a Madhesi candidate for the post of vice-president in case a non-Madhesi candidate became the president.

JSP-N leader Rajkishor Yadav said since the speaker, deputy speaker, and National Assembly chair and deputy chair were non-Madhesis, they wanted either the president or the vice-president to be a Madhesi.A version of this article appears in the print on February 23, 2023, of The Himalayan Times. .

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