The main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) is set to field local leader Khem Raj Paudel for the by-election in the federal constituency of Kaski-2 scheduled for November 30.
The party has zeroed in on Paudel after central member Dhan Raj Gurung from Syangja district, who has been lobbying for the ticket, stepped back and recommended that local leaders be considered for candidacy.
A meeting of NC office-bearers held at President Sher Bahadur Deuba's residence on Wednesday authorized Deuba to select candidates for the upcoming by-election.
Deuba proposed Khem Raj Paudel be made candidate from Kaski-2 during the meeting. "We have talked about fielding Khem Raj Paudel as candidate. Formal decision has yet to be taken," NC Spokesperson Bishwo Prakash Sharma told Setopati.
The local unit of NC has sent a list of 16 probable candidates to the center for the constituency. Khem Raj Paudel, Dev Raj Chalise and Krishna Karki were considered front-runners for the ticket.
There will be by-election for 50 positions including Kaski-2 for the House of Representatives (HoR) vacant after death of the then minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation Rabindra Adhikari, three constituencies of provincial assemblies, and local bodies.
