TEXAS: All office bearers of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) National Coordination Council in the USA have been elected unopposed.

As per the election program announced for the new leadership of the association, the Election Commission has announced that all the office bearers have been elected unopposed after only one candidate was nominated for each position.

According to the election program, the elections were scheduled to be held on July 27 and 28. According to the commission, although most of the posts were contested by a single candidate, more than one candidate was contested for some posts. The commission stated on Wednesday that all the office bearers were elected unopposed after the leaders of the association tried to form a consensus for the new leadership.

According to the Election Commission, Bikash Upreti has been elected as the president, Prem Tamang as the senior vice-president, Deepak Pandey, Diwakar Sapkota, Kumar Tamang, and Thalbir Oli as the vice-presidents, Shanti Paudyal as the women’s vice-president, and Bishnu Prasad Poudel as the youth vice-president.

Similarly, the Election Commission has announced that Ram Chandra Pant has been elected as the General Secretary of the National Coordination Council, Prachanda Shrestha as the Secretary, Sangita Lama Lamichhane as the Women’s Secretary, Kamal Dhungana as the Treasurer and Manoj Kumar Thagunna as the Co-Treasurer, Sabitra Siwakoti as the Women’s Coordinator, and Ashish Sangraula as the Youth Coordinator.

After a dispute arose regarding the affiliation with the International Coordination Council (ICC) and the requirement to hold elections by July as per the directives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ICC had formed a special election committee to conduct the NCC America elections. The other party’s Election Commission, led by Vasu Phula, has announced the election dates for August 17 and 18.

The party has prepared for a separate election process, stating that since the association is registered as a social organization according to the legal structure of the United States, its affiliation with the ICC and the directives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are not binding.

Thus, due to the differences between the two parties, the elections of the Non-Resident Nepali Association of America are going to be held on separate dates. The impact of the ICC controversy and factionalism is clearly visible in the NCC America election process as well.