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Jhakri and Gharti poised for a race to take over ANNFSU mantle

As efforts to patch up consensus has not yet succeeded, the contest for the post of president of All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) – the student wing affiliated with Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) – is set to be decided through election.

Top two candidates are in the fray to take over the mantle of the student wing – Gokul Gharti, the current general secretary, and Ram Kumari Jhakri, the current vice president.

The election will be a part of the ongoing ANNFSU general convention in Pokhara – which has been marred by disputes over the eligible number of representatives.

The two sides have locked horns over the dispute as 2000 people have come forward claiming to be representatives while the official documents had earlier stated there would be around 1500 of them – who are eligible for casting votes.

Even as the contest is between the student leaders, analysts have said it will provide an interesting dress rehearsal to the larger struggle for leadership within the party at central level. Reports suggest Gharti is being backed by leaders close to former UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal while Jhakri is favoured by current deputy prime minister Bamdev Gautam's lobby.

The party is going to hold its central convention after six months and, behind the curtain race to grab its leadership has already started. nepalnews.com sd Sep 25 08